Sporting CP head coach Rui Borges has hinted that Viktor Gyokeres could leave the club before long, amid recent links with a move to Arsenal.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with a summer move for Viktor Gyokeres in recent weeks, but the player continues to ply his trade with Portuguese side Sporting CP for the time being.
Sporting boss Rui Borges is very glad about that, with Gyokeres scoring his 44th goal of Sporting’s 2024/25 campaign on Monday. But the manager suggested his club need to capitalise on the 26-year-old’s talent while they have the chance.
“Fortunately, we have him at Sporting. We must make the most of the time we have with him because he is truly exceptional,” Borges said.
“Viktor is a game-changer, and he will continue to be, whether with us or elsewhere. His quality is undeniable; it is phenomenal.”
Despite Gyokeres’ free-kick goal against third-place side Braga on Monday, the away side’s late equaliser denied Sporting three points and left Benfica two points clear at the top of the Liga Portugal.
If Gyokeres really is going to leave Sporting this summer, he’ll want to ensure he’s parting ways with a winners’ medal. He can’t afford to let up in their final six league matches.
The team are also likely to be in the final of the Taca de Portugal, with Gyokeres one of the scorers in their 2-0 semi-final first-leg win over Rio Ave last week. The second leg is on April 23rd.
Gyokeres reportedly has a verbal agreement with Sporting to leave for a bid in the region of €65-70m this summer, despite his official release clause of €100m.
Sporting and Gyokeres came to that agreement on the basis that the striker wouldn’t push for a move last summer or in January, despite the club losing their manager Ruben Amorim to Manchester United.
Gyokeres has kept up his side of the bargain with 44 goals and 11 assists in 44 games.
With Arsenal’s new sporting director Andrea Berta now driving a move for the player, it remains to be seen if Sporting will hold up their side this summer.