Amorim announces Gyokeres will LEAVE Sporting as €50m rumour emerges

Viktor Gyokeres’ departure from Sporting CP has been confirmed by Ruben Amorim amid intense transfer speculation surrounding the in-form striker.

Clubs across Europe are interested in signing the former Coventry hitman, with Arsenal, Chelsea, PSG and now Manchester United all eager to get their hands on a player who has been scoring at a rate of more than a goal per game this season.

Strangely, Gyokeres drew a blank in Amorim’s final game in charge of Sporting before leaving to hook up with Man Utd, yet in a fitting conclusion to the coach’s time at the Lisbon club, it was a player the boss expects to ultimately replace him, Conrad Harder, who scored a late brace to help turn a 2-0 deficit into an incredible 4-2 victory.

“Viktor is a special player and Conrad will take his place,” Amorim said, effectively confirming Gyokeres’ imminent exit for the second time. “I don’t know when it will happen, but I’m happy for the club.”

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’Plan B’ announced

Sporting’s prospects of retaining Gyokeres at least until the summer have been boosted by the news that Arsenal are looking at alternatives to the striker for the January transfer window.

CaughtOffside reports that a €50 million deal is in the works for Atalanta‘s Mateo Retegui as the Gunners seek a ‘Plan B’ to provide additional scoring muscle after falling nine points off the pace in the Premier League.

This should offer encouragement to the likes of Man Utd and PSG, who are the clubs most obviously in need of a centre-forward.

Gyokeres has a release clause of €100m, which would likely have to be triggered to instigate a January deal.

However, there are widespread reports that a gentleman’s agreement is in place between the striker and Sporting that he will be able to leave for €70m if he remains until the summer.