Sporting Lisbon take action after Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres ‘strike’ threat

Viktor Gyokeres is a transfer target for Arsenal this summer and his future could soon be resolved after reports the Gunners made a breakthrough with Sporting CP amid the prospect of a strike

Sporting CP have taken the drastic move to DELAY Viktor Gyokeres’ return to pre-season training after the striker’s supposed threat to go on strike. The Arsenal target has been embroiled in an explosive spat with Sporting president Frederico Varandas over the fee he is able to depart for as he seeks a move.

Mirror Football understands Gyokeres, whose team-mates return to training on Monday, has been handed a four-day extension until Friday, as Sporting chiefs attempt to diffuse the conflict. The new deadline is the day before Sporting travel to the Algarve for a training camp.

While a contingent of Sporting’s first-team stars will be conducting physical testing, the club will be left sweating over Gyokeres’ future prospects. And Arsenal may sense an opportunity to achieve a breakthrough to land a new striker.

Gyokeres and his agent Hasan Cetinkaya made the strike threat after they believed the club reneged on an agreement to make the Sweden international available for £60million. Sporting president Frederico Varandas rejected the details of Cetinkaya’s claim, with Gyokeres’ anger said to stem from his belief that the Portuguese giants are demanding £67m – a figure still below his release clause, which will not be required to be met this summer.

Varandas has remained adamant Gyokeres will only be sold for a fair value and suggested: “Threats, blackmail and insults don’t work with me.” Though his star striker’s delayed return indicates the situation is far from simple.

READ MORE: Arsenal strike Noni Madueke agreement after Chelsea star gets transfer green lightREAD MORE: Viktor Gyokeres rejects two huge offers amid Arsenal transfer breakthrough

While blasting Gyokeres’ agent in a stunning statement last month, Varandas said there was yet to even be an offer on the table for the 50-goal striker. But there was an admission that a deal below his release clause would be facilitated in a bid to allow Gyokeres to chase Champions League football.

Since then, Gyokeres is said to have rebuffed two monster offers from the Saudi Pro League. Al-Hilal and Al-Qadisiyah are noted to have made offers to the player worth £11m-a-year.

Gyokeres has snubbed all proposals with a move to the Premier League and Arsenal his preference. And now he must wait to see if the Gunners can strike a deal.

The north London side have long target a striker with Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko deemed to be club targets this summer to help Mikel Arteta’s team go one better in the Premier League. Andrea Berta has been working on deals for both players and while Sesko was understood to be the club’s top target, reports have claimed a breakthrough in talks over Gyokeres.

Arsenal and Sporting are said to now be in ‘advanced talks’ over a deal for the ex-Coventry forward. Gyokeres is believed to have already agreed a five-year deal with the Gunners to make the move to the Emirates.

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