Sporting CP have warned Arsenal they’ll not be forced into selling Viktor Gyokeres after confirming the striker can be disciplined for failing to show up for pre-season training.
Gyokeres was asked to affix up with the Sporting squad before 5pm on Saturday before they set off for his or her pre-season camp within the Algarve.
As expected, he did not turn up with the squad and staff leaving without him.
The Sweden international has told Sporting he doesn’t intend to return to the club this summer, eager to secure a move to Arsenal.
Sporting have taken a tough line approach over Gyokeres’ sale having denied the existence of a gentlemen’s agreement over what fee he could leave for this summer.
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As a substitute, Sporting president Frederico Varandas is demanding €70million (£60.2m) up front plus €10m in add-ons.
Arsenal have already seen a minimum of one offer rejected with the move reported to have been on the verge of collapsing this week.
Following the striker’s refusal to affix his teammates on Saturday night, Varandas released an announcement blasting the ‘geniuses’ who think they will pressure the Portuguese champions into selling their prized asset.
The Sporting president confirmed Gyokeres can be punished with ‘a heavy high quality’, adding they can be completely happy to maintain him on the club heading into the brand new season if the suitable offer doesn’t are available.
‘If the geniuses who’re devising this strategy think this puts pressure on me to facilitate an exit, they usually are not only completely incorrect but are also making the player’s exit conditions much more complicated,’ Varandas said.
‘Nobody is above the interests of the club, whoever they’re.
‘In the event that they don’t wish to pay for Viktor fair market value, we’re perfectly comfortable with this for the following three years [the time left on Gyokeres’ contract].
‘We’re calm about all this. Every little thing might be resolved with a market closure, a heavy high quality, and an apology to the group.’
In an interview with France Football released on Saturday morning, Gyokeres made it clear he wants a move to the Premier League to affix a team ‘that basically wants him’.
‘If something goes to occur, it should occur. Crucial thing for me is to play for a club that basically wants me.’
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