‘He will Join on one condition’ – Sporting send strong transfer message to Man United over Viktor Gyokeres transfer in January amid strong Arsenal links

‘He will Join on one condition’ – Sporting send strong transfer message to Man United over Viktor Gyokeres transfer in January amid strong Arsenal links

Sporting assistant manager Tiago Teixeira has denied rumors that Viktor Gyokeres is considering a high-profile January transfer, stating that the striker is still “very happy” with the team.

Gyokeres, 26, is considered one of the most sought-after attacking players in European football because of his incredible goal-scoring abilities at Sporting, where he has scored 66 goals in 68 games over the past two seasons.

Despite Gyokeres’ eye-watering £83 million release clause in Lisbon, teams like Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain have all reportedly shown a lot of interest in recent months.

But according to numerous estimates, the free-scoring Sweden international might only cost £63 million at the end of the 2024–2025 season.

Ruben Amorim’s recent departure from Sporting to take charge of Manchester United has only fuelled rumours that Gyokeres could follow suit with a transfer to Old Trafford before too long

But the Portuguese champions are in no hurry to cash in on Gyokeres and remain confident of keeping hold of their prized possession beyond the January transfer window.

‘We are prepared to welcome him today to train for the first time and we are very happy to have him here,’ Sporting assistant Teixeira told Portuguese media when asked about a potential move for Gyokeres this winter

‘He is also very happy with the season he is having representing Sporting and his national team.

‘He is very happy to be here.

‘What we want is to have him for as long as possible.’

Gyokeres has been keen not to be drawn into the incessant speculation over his future this term and distanced himself from talk that he could follow in Amorim’s footsteps in January.

Going with Amorim to Manchester United? I don’t know,’ he replied when pressed on the possibility of joining Amorim following his man-of-the-match display against Estrela at the start of the month.

‘I’m here. As you can see, I enjoy it at Sporting.

‘It’s nothing I really think about. I’m sad about him [Amorim] leaving. We wish him all the best.’

Barcelona had been among the teams linked to Gyokeres but the club’s sporting director, Deco, poured cold water on these rumours last week.

Deco told Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo: ‘He is a good player, he has been scoring goals for a long time in Portugal.

‘We know him like others but he is not a priority at the moment and we looking for a No.9 to replace Robert [Lewandowski] because we want him to remain happy, scoring goals and at least stay for another season.

‘We have won things and he is happy to be here. We are not going to talk about any player now.’