Sporting CP president confirms Gyokeres will leave if…

Sporting CP‘s president Frederico Varandas has confirmed that there is nothing he can do to stop Viktor Gyokeres from leaving.

The Swedish sharpshooter remains the most talked-about striker in European football at present. Though Gyokeres drew a rare blank in Ruben Amorim’s final game against Braga, the 26-year-old is still feasting off of his hattrick against Man City in the Champions League.

Gyokeres is once more a sought-after commodity, having netted 23 goals and provided four assists in just 18 games this season. Sporting CP have resigned themselves to the fact that they will lose the striker in the summer, agreeing to let him walk for €60 million to €70m rather than his €100m release clause.

READ MORE: Only ONE player is ‘safe’ under Amorim

This agreement is, however, only valid for the summer and clubs will still have to shell out the full €100m to get him in January. Amorim has already confirmed that his new employer Man Utd won’t go after Gyokeres in the winter, but other clubs like Arsenal and PSG remain keen.

Sporting CP president on Gyokeres

Nevertheless, Sporting CP are confident that the Swede will stay put until the end of the season. They are, however, aware that there is little they could do if someone were to trigger his clause.

Speaking at the unveiling of new head coach Joao Pereira, Sporting president Frederico Varandas acknowledged: “Regarding the transfer market, I can’t promise anything. If a club comes, pays a clause and the player wants to go, he will.”

READ MORE: Arsenal identify Viktor Gyokeres ‘Plan B’

Fortunately, the president assured Sporting fans, there is no reason to fear the winter window. “I do not think this will happen in January,” he insisted.

According to Amorim, Sporting are well placed to deal with the eventual departure of Gyokeres. 19-year-old Conrad Harder, who scored a late brace against Braga, is waiting in the wings to take the Swede’s place.