Latest news with #Varandas
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Sporting president says no gentleman's agreement, or offers, for Gyokeres transfer
Sporting President Frederico Varandas has shot down reports the club would accept 70 million euros for Viktor Gyokeres and said he had not received a single offer for the Swedish striker who has been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal. Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals last season, has three years left on his contract, which contains a 100 million euros ($115.23 million) release clause. While Varandas said they would not seek the full amount of the clause for the 27-year-old he denied reports there was a 'gentleman's agreement' that would allow him to leave for 70 million euros in the transfer window. 'I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60 million euros plus 10 million euros because I never promised that,' Varandas told reporters on Wednesday. 'To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres — neither today nor last season.' Gyokeres has bagged 97 goals in 102 matches for the Portuguese side since his 2023 move from Coventry City, winning the Primeira Liga title in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Varandas said he had told Gyokeres' agent that while they would not demand the full release clause the club would not set a specific price that would trigger a transfer. '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,' he added. 'I don't know if it will be 40 million euros, 60 million euros or 80 million euros. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million euros.''
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Sporting president says no gentleman's agreement, or offers, for Gyokeres transfer
Sporting president says no gentleman's agreement, or offers, for Gyokeres transfer Sporting President Frederico Varandas has shot down reports the club would accept 70 million euros for Viktor Gyokeres and said he had not received a single offer for the Swedish striker who has been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal. Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals last season, has three years left on his contract, which contains a 100 million euros ($115.23 million) release clause. While Varandas said they would not seek the full amount of the clause for the 27-year-old he denied reports there was a "gentleman's agreement" that would allow him to leave for 70 million euros in the transfer window. "I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60 million euros plus 10 million euros because I never promised that," Varandas told reporters on Wednesday. "To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres — neither today nor last season." Gyokeres has bagged 97 goals in 102 matches for the Portuguese side since his 2023 move from Coventry City, winning the Primeira Liga title in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Varandas said he had told Gyokeres' agent that while they would not demand the full release clause the club would not set a specific price that would trigger a transfer. "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," he added. "I don't know if it will be 40 million euros, 60 million euros or 80 million euros. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million euros.'" REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Metro
2 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Arsenal meet with Viktor Gyokeres' agent as striker makes Man Utd transfer call
Arsenal have held fresh talks with Viktor Gyokeres' agent over a summer deal for the Sporting CP striker, according to reports in Portugal. Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Juventus have all expressed their interest in signing the Sweden international this summer after another impressive campaign in which he scored 54 goals in 52 matches, and helped Sporting win the domestic league and cup double. Sporting have been open to selling Gyokeres in the summer transfer window for lower than his €100 million (£83.8m) release clause. However, Sporting's president, Frederico Varandas, hit out at Gyokeres and his agent on Wednesday over suggestions that a set fee had been agreed ahead of the window. Meanwhile, CNN Portugal and Portuguese newspaper Record reported on Wednesday evening that Arsenal's hierarchy met with Gyokeres' representative, Hasan Cetinkaya, on Wednesday and an official offer from the Gunners is now expected. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. It's claimed that Gyokeres has informed his agent that he wants to join Arsenal ahead of United, Chelsea or Juventus. CNN Portugal reporter Nuno Farinha said: 'Arsenal are the club that Gyokeres has wanted from the very beginning. 'Gyokeres wants to play for Arsenal, he has stated this desire very openly to his agent. 'Officially, there has not been an offer yet, but there have been many contacts. This time, it seems that there will be [an offer].' Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Varandas told Gyokeres and his agent that he would not be 'blackmailed' into accepting a low offer for the striker this summer. 'It was agreed that Sporting would not demand the release clause at the end of the following season, especially because he was going to be 27,' Varandas said. 'Then, we knew Viktor's dream of going to a club where he could fight for the Champions League and we have common sense. We guaranteed that we would not demand €100 million. 'In that meeting, the agent wanted to anchor the departure to a value, he spoke of €60 million, €70 million… And I said 'there's no point in setting a value because I don't know what will happen here in a year, if he gets injured, if he has a disappointing season. 'There's no point in setting a value, I don't know if it will be €40m, €60m or €80m. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand €100 million'. More Trending 'From then on, I never spoke to the agent again, I never spoke to the player about departures and values. 'Ten months have passed and I see the agent in the press spouting information here and there, but Sporting has common sense, it keeps its word. 'One thing you should already know is me better. Threats, blackmail and insults don't work with me. I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60m plus €10m because I never promised him that. 'This game that the agent is playing only makes the situation worse. To this day, Sporting has not had an offer for Viktor Gyokeres, neither today nor last season.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Arsenal urged to avoid transfer for £40m 'generation talent' seeking move MORE: Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool share big 'concern' over Club World Cup MORE: Arsenal follow Chelsea in starting transfer talks for Ajax wonderkid
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Transfer news: Sporting president says Gyokeres will not leave club for €70m
Sporting Lisbon have not received an offer for striker Viktor Gyokeres and there is no 'gentleman's agreement' for him to leave for €70m, says club president Frederico Varandas. Sweden international Gyokeres, 27, has been heavily linked with Manchester United and Arsenal after scoring 97 goals in 102 matches during two seasons in Portugal. He has a €100m release clause in his contract and it's been reported that, after staying at Sporting last summer, Gyokeres and Sporting agreed he could leave for €70m this summer. However, Varandas said the club's only promise to Gyokeres was that they would not demand his full release clause. "I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60m plus €10m because I never promised that," Varandas said. "To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres — neither today nor last season." Gyokeres spent three seasons with Coventry City in the Championship before joining Sporting under Ruben Amorim. Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana was sporting director at Sporting last summer, when Gyokeres' agent sought assurances about his leaving if a suitable offer arrived. "One of the agent's biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause," said Varandas. "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 €100m euros. "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 €40m, €60m or €80m. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand €100m.'" Arsenal look likely to acquire the services of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad. File picture:Martin Meissner/AP Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has spoken about his future plans as Arsenal close in on signing Martin Zubimendi as his replacement from Real Sociedad. Arsenal confirmed last week that they remained in talks with Partey and were hopeful of agreeing a short-term deal that would see him extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium. Partey's final decision could well be influenced by Arteta's plan for him next season and with Zubimendi set to join, it is uncertain whether or not Arsenal's most experienced midfielder would settle for a reduced role. The player, himself, however, insists what is best for him and his young family will play a decisive role in his eventual decision. "The first thing is where are you happy and where do you feel at home. At the end of the day you've been in football, you've been in different teams. Then it's about what is your next objective what do you want to achieve next. You still have to look at all this and at the end of the day we all have a family that needs money, this is our mind. 'We are not getting younger. There are a lot of things where you have to look now with a family, where you want them to be happy. When you go out nobody is going to destroy your family, these are things you have to look at. When you are young you just anywhere. 'I'm an Arsenal fan, I can't decide anything and just have to leave it to my agent and the club. Me, I just want to enjoy football. 'Every moment, every year or every time in training there I feel I've been in my best because I can't count how many games I was not giving all my best. "Sometimes it may go bad but every game I go all out and try to give my best. I feel happy in me, every year injury or no injury which is part of it I have given my best." Tijjani Reijnders has joined Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. File picture: Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Manchester City have completed the £46.3million signing of Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan. The Premier League club have confirmed the 26-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium. His arrival makes it four signings in a week for City, who announced deals for £30.5m midfielder Rayan Cherki from Lyon and Chelsea's third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli on Tuesday, while left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri joined from Wolves in a £31.3m move on Monday. Reijnders scored 15 goals in the 2024-25 campaign and will bolster Pep Guardiola's midfield options, with Kevin De Bruyne set to join Napoli soon. Liverpool's are expected to sign Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz when the transfer window reopens. The fee for the player is expected to be around £124m. If the deal goes through, it would beat the club's £85m record signing of Darwin Nunez in 2022. Read More FIFA to discuss staging 48-team Club World Cup if upcoming tournament successful
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Explosive Viktor Gyokeres 'blackmail' statement made in Man Utd transfer update
Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has claimed that blackmail and threats will not force him to agree to a transfer for Viktor Gyokeres. It has been said that the forward is willing to go on strike after he believed the club had went back on their word over the fee they were willing to accept for a move. Gyokeres has drawn interest from across Europe and the Saudi Pro League, with Arsenal and Manchester United among contenders for his signature. The 27-year-old is thought to prefer a move to the Premier League. But Varandas has denied he agreed to allow Gyokeres to leave if an offer reaching £60million arrived for the Swedish forward. And the president has suggested there has yet to be an offer on the table for the forward. "One thing you should already know is me better," said Varandas, per Record. "Threats, blackmail and insults don't work with me. "I can guarantee that Viktor Gyökeres will not leave for €60m+10m because I never promised him that. This game that the agent is playing only makes the situation worse. To this day, Sporting has not had an offer for Viktor Gyökeres, neither today nor last season." Gyokeres' fury is said to stem from his belief that the Portuguese giants are demanding £67m, a figure almost £10m more than he expected. While Varandas accepted the club will not demand the player's release clause be activated, he attempted to explain what he considers the truth of the agreement made with Gyokeres' agent. New Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana played a crucial role before Varandas was required to enter negotiations. "I think it's fair to explain the whole process. The process started last year when the season ended, Sporting were champions and had a fantastic season," Varandas explained. "During the transfer window we realised that Viktor was going to stay at Sporting because we didn't receive a single offer for him. When the season started, the agent approached Hugo Viana several times, asking if we could add an extra fee to the contract if he scored 'x' goals; I gave Viana the opportunity to negotiate, within reason. "Viana manages the relationship with the agents, and very well, this is done by the sporting director. One of the agent's biggest concerns was whether we would demand the value of the 100 million clause next year. "Viana negotiated with the agents over several meetings, until the agent himself asked for the president's presence to settle the matter once and for all. The issue of the bonus for 'x' goals seemed reasonable and at that meeting, where the president, the agent and Viana were present, no player was present, Viktor was not present, the agent wanted to guarantee certain things." "It was agreed that Sporting would not demand the release clause at the end of the following season, especially because he was going to be 27. Then, we knew Viktor's dream of going to a club where he could fight for the Champions League and we have common sense. "We guaranteed that we would not demand 100 million. In that meeting, the agent wanted to anchor the departure to a value, he spoke of 60 million, 70 million... And I said 'there's no point in setting a value because I don't know what will happen here in a year, if he gets injured, if he has a disappointing season... There's no point in setting a value, I don't know if it will be 40, 60 or 80. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million'. "From then on, I never spoke to the agent again, I never spoke to the player about departures and values. 10 months have passed and I see the agent in the press spouting information here and there, but Sporting has common sense, it keeps its word. The president of Sporting said that the club would not demand the clause and that we would adjust the value to Viktor's performance, he was one of the best players ever to step on the pitch in Portugal." Sky has slashed the price of its bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
