Viktor Gyokeres drops huge transfer hint as Arsenal watch on amid Sporting Lisbon exit claim

Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres has hinted that he will leave Sporting CP next summer. The Sweden international, who joined the Portuguese outfit for £17.5million plus bonuses from Championship side Coventry City in July 2023, has been sensational since making a club-record move to Sporting.

In fact, Gyokeres scored 43 goals and added 15 assists in 50 appearances for them last season. That dazzling form attracted mooted interest from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United this summer but – in the end – Gyokeres opted to stay put.

The 26-year-old has scored 11 times and added five assists in eight matches for club and country, so far this season, and is one of the most sought-after strikers in world football. Gyokeres has a £85million release clause and Sporting are not eager to let him go for less than that.

With this in mind, Gyokeres was quizzed on his future ahead of Sporting’s Champions League curtain-raiser against Lille – and hinted he could leave the club at the end of the season. He said: “Yes, the release clause into my contract is high, but I’m happy at Sporting.

“I had no problems when I had to stay here for one more season. My value is there and that’s it for now, we will see when something happens.”

Sporting manager Ruben Amorim, who was linked with Liverpool and West Ham earlier this year, has warned clubs they will need to meet the release clause if they want to lure him away.

“Gyokeres is a great player and I think he’s worth €100million,” he told CNN last week. “That’s the price he has, and we have to go ahead with it, so whoever wants to [sign him] will have to pay €100million.”

Arsenal were unable to snap-up a new No.9 this summer, despite being linked with Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney among others. In the end, Mikel Arteta’s side ended up adding Raheem Sterling to their squad, boosting their wide forward department after the departure of Reiss Nelson to Fulham.

They are expected to dip back into the market for a centre forward in the coming transfer windows, as Arteta tries to strengthen his squad. The Gunners have made a positive start to the Premier League season, picking up 10 points from a possible 12, having returned to winning ways in the North London Derby at rivals Tottenham.