SPORTING LISBON fear Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres will carry out his threat and go on strike tomorrow.
The centre-forward could try to force a move to the Prem by not reporting for the first session of pre-season at the club’s Cristiano Ronaldo Academy HQ.
Viktor Gyokeres is threatening to go on strike from Sporting Lisbon[/caption]
Swede Gyokeres, also wanted by Manchester United and Juventus, favours a switch to the Gunners and claims his club have broken a gentleman’s agreement that he could leave for £60million.
Sporting know there is massive interest in their star and are demanding at least £68.5m.
The Lisbon club’s president Frederico Varandas — who has had a public falling out with the former Coventry forward — felt Gyokeres’ threat to snub pre-season was just a bluff.
Sporting hoped he would return to the Portuguese capital today before meeting up with the squad tomorrow.
Gyokeres got extra time off during the summer following his international duty with Sweden last month.
But Portuguese sources have told SunSport that Gyokeres, who netted 54 goals in 52 appearances last term, is increasingly unlikely to not turn up.
He is angry with the way the situation has been handled, which is great news for Arsenal.
Gyokeres has snubbed lucrative offers from Saudi Pro League sides Al-Qadsiah and Al-Hilal — who were prepared to offer him millions — because he would rather play in the Prem.
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Varandas said £51.8m in guaranteed payments plus £8.6m in add-ons would not be enough to persuade Sporting to sell their star player.
Though a package of just over £60m — with the extra £8.6m tied to achievable targets — might persuade Sporting to do a deal as they will not want to keep an unhappy Gyokeres at the club.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta needs a new striker and has targeted both Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
He wants a new man on the plane when the Gunners fly to Singapore for the start of their pre-season tour on July 19.
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Frankfurt ace Hugo Ekitike and former Manchester City star Julian Alvarez — currently at Atletico Madrid — are also being looked at.
Sesko, 22, is due to return to training with Leipzig on Saturday.
Bundesliga club Leipzig are yet to receive a bid for the Slovenian but must sell at least one big star to balance the books after failing to qualify for Europe.
Arsenal have completed a £51m deal for Spain’s Martin Zubimendi, 26, with the midfielder set to sign within 36 hours.
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