Striker refuses to report for Algarve training camp; Sporting considers fines, disciplinary action, and raising asking price to €100 million.
When Sporting's team departs Alcochete for Lagos in the Algarve at 5:30 pm this Saturday, Viktor Gyokeres will be conspicuously absent.
The Swedish striker's transfer saga continues, with neither Gyokeres reporting for duty nor Arsenal submitting a new bid.
Gyokeres was initially expected back last Monday with the other international players. However, after Arsenal's sporting director, Andrea Berta, traveled to Lisbon over the weekend in an attempt to secure his services, Sporting granted the 27-year-old permission to delay his return until the squad's departure for the Algarve training camp.
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Gyokeres was expected in Lisbon on Friday night, and then at the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy at 4:30 pm on Saturday for the pre-departure meeting. He will be a no-show on both occasions. The Swede's decision to hold out appears firm, barring a last-minute change of heart.
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A potential breakthrough could come if Arsenal returns with an improved offer. Their previous bid of €65 million plus €15 million in add-ons (not €63 million + €17 million, as Gyokeres waived €2 million of the €8.3 million annual salary offered by the Gunners) has not been revisited.
Currently, the deal remains stalled, with the risk of collapse looming. While Arsenal are reportedly considering a new strategy, they are aware that the €65 million + €15 million formula is insufficient for Sporting.
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The Lisbon club remains firm on their €80 million valuation, ideally structured as €70 million + €10 million in achievable add-ons. The specifics of those add-ons remain a point of contention.
Further complicating matters is the strained relationship between the clubs and the player's representatives. Positions have hardened, egos are bruised, and patience is wearing thin. While the deal hasn't fallen apart completely, it's on very shaky ground.
Sporting's board will address the situation on Saturday or Sunday.
Sporting's management is waiting but recognizes Gyokeres' impending breach of contract. They will address the matter publicly on Saturday or Sunday. Several options are on the table, from heavy fines to disciplinary action.
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They could even raise his asking price to his €100 million release clause. By failing to report, Gyokeres will be in breach of contract.
Five consecutive unauthorized absences, or ten intermittent ones, constitute grounds for dismissal with cause, though Sporting is unlikely to take this route, risking the loss of their most valuable asset.
The standoff continues, and Saturday could prove decisive in this summer's transfer saga.