Viktor Gyokeres has taken legal action as his proposed transfer to Arsenal takes another twist.
Varandas denied that any agreement existed, but admitted the club would sell for less than the full release clause.
Gyokeres responded by telling Sporting he would not play for the club again.
After he refused to report for pre-season training, the Portuguese champions initiated legal action against the player.
According to Portuguese outlet Record, Gyokeres’ legal representatives have now issued a legal letter.
In the document, the striker blames Varandas not honouring the supposed gentleman’s agreement for his refusal to report for pre-season.
Sporting president Frederico Varandas has publicly denied the existence of any gentlemanβs agreement but did concede that the club would be open to selling GyΓΆkeres for less than his full β¬100 million release clause.
In response, GyΓΆkeres informed the club he would no longer play for them under any circumstances.
After the striker failed to report for pre-season training, Sporting β now Portuguese champions β took the drastic step of initiating legal proceedings against him.
According to Record, a Portuguese news outlet, GyΓΆkeresβ legal team has fired back by issuing a formal legal letter. In it, the striker asserts that his refusal to attend training stems directly from Varandasβ failure to uphold the alleged verbal agreement that would have facilitated his exit for a lower fee.
With legal tensions rising and negotiations still unresolved, this transfer saga is turning increasingly bitter β with both parties digging in and the playerβs Arsenal move hanging in the balance.
Despite the ongoing dispute, all signs point toward Viktor GyΓΆkeres eventually joining Arsenal this summer.
The Gunners have already set off on their pre-season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong, where manager Mikel Arteta was asked about the Swedish striker.
βI canβt comment on any player whoβs not currently part of our squad,β Arteta said. βWhen thereβs something concrete, weβll make it known.β
Though Arteta was tight-lipped, his desire for a new striker has been no secret β having publicly urged the club to strengthen up front as far back as the January transfer window.
A forward like GyΓΆkeres, who netted an astonishing 39 league goals in 33 games last season, would provide the clinical edge Arsenal has been lacking.
The club has already been busy this summer, securing signings such as Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian NΓΈrgaard, and Noni Madueke. Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera is also reportedly close to finalizing a move to North London.
Amid all the noise, one thing seems increasingly clear: unless something drastic changes, GyΓΆkeres looks set to become Arsenalβs headline signing of the summer.
