Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has issued a remarkable statement regarding Manchester United target Victor Gyökeres, following recent media speculation.
Manchester United are actively seeking attacking reinforcements this summer following a poor 2024/25 season, which ended with a disappointing 15th-place finish in the Premier League — a consequence of their lack of cutting edge up front.
Bruno Fernandes finished as the club’s top scorer with 19 goals, while Alejandro Garnacho and Amad each contributed 11. Rasmus Højlund managed 10, and no other player reached double digits across all competitions.
United have already struck a deal to bring in Matheus Cunha from Wolves, and confidence is growing around a potential agreement for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Nevertheless, the search for a new centre-forward continues, with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres firmly on their radar. The Swedish striker has scored 97 goals in 102 games for the Portuguese side, including 66 in just 68 appearances under Rúben Amorim.
Sporting president releases stunning Gyökeres statement
Reports this week stated that, with Sporting president Frederico Varandas said to be demanding £67 million for the striker this summer, Gyökeres had been left “furious” as he understood there to be an agreement that Sporting would sell him for an overall package of €60 million plus a further €10 million in add-ons, totalling £59 million.
Furthermore, Portuguese outlets reported that Gyökeres continued to be incensed and had threatened to go public with his fury, as he feels disrespected by his current club and demanded to be sold.
Now, speaking at the inauguration of a museum extension in Leiria, a municipality and city in Portugal, Varandas has hit back at Gyökeres and the media claims.
“I tried to take three days off, I came back yesterday,” Varandas started. “I saw so much information and counter-information that it is only fair to come and explain the process.
“It started last year, when the [2023/24] season ended and Sporting became national champions. During the transfer market, we saw that he was going to stay because there was no offer. The agent spoke to us to add some clauses. Hugo Viana, as he always did, and very well, managed the relationship with the agents. This relational space is established with the sports director.
“One of the agent’s biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause. Hugo Viana negotiated with the agents over several meetings until the agent demanded the presence of the president. At this meeting, which included the president, the agent and Viana, Gyökeres was not present. He wanted to guarantee certain things.
“And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now. For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old, and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for €100 or €90 million.
“In that same meeting, the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: ‘It’s not worth us setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year’s time.
“I don’t know if it will be €40, €60 or €80 million. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand €100 million. From then on, I never spoke to the agent again, and I never spoke to the player about departures or values. Now I see the agent in the press releasing information.
“I want to make one thing clear: Sporting has common sense and keeps its word. Gyökeres scored 63 goals and 10 assists. Fantastic performance. Certainly one of the best players to have ever stepped onto Portuguese turf. And Sporting will not demand the clause.
“Now, blackmail and insults, Sporting will not accept. One thing is certain: Sporting will not accept €60 million plus €10 million [in add-ons]. As of today, Sporting has not received any proposal for Gyökeres.”
Sporting suffering from same transfer issue as United
While Varandas has made it abundantly clear that Sporting will not bow to the demands of any club and will only sell Gyökeres for a value they feel compensates them properly, the clear rift between player and club harms their transfer chances.
It is a similar situation to the one United are facing with Garnacho. United want to sell the player for as much as £70 million this summer, and many clubs, including those in the Premier League, are interested in signing him. However, his status at Old Trafford is harming United.
Amorim has reportedly made it clear that Garnacho has no future at United and will leave this summer, which is leaving clubs feeling as if they may be able to secure him in a cut-price deal.
United need to sell players fast if they want to secure further signings before pre-season commences in mid-July, with Garnacho being the most lucrative of all.
However, much like Gyökeres at Sporting, Garnacho’s current predicament at United is that neither club want to be the first to bid, as they are waiting to see what other clubs view as the player’s actual value.
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