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Viktor breaks silence
Viktor Gyokeres has broken his silence on his transfer fall-out with Sporting Lisbon chiefs with a brief 22-word statement, writes KATHERINE WALSH.
The Man Utd and Arsenal target striker is reportedly at loggerheads with Sporting bosses after trying to force through a dream move to the Premier League.
The Swede, 27, is allegedly furious with Sporting for going back on their word over a promise to lower his £84million release clause and plans not to play for the club again.
He believes he had a gentleman's agreement to leave the Portuguese giants for £50million with a further £8million in add-ons, but that claim has been denied by president Frederico Varandas.
The former Coventry man then reportedly threatened to go on strike while vowing not to play for the club again if they don't lower their offer.
But Varandas insisted he will not be bullied into letting the Arsenal and Manchester United target move to the Prem on the cheap this summer. He said: 'Sporting will not accept blackmail and insults – you should know me better by now.'
But Gyokeres has now tried to play down the squabble by writing on his Instagram story on Thursday evening: "There is a lot of talks at the moment, most of it is false. I will speak when the time is right."
It also comes after reports claimed that Arsenal submitted a new bid for Gyokeres on Wednesday, with his agent Hasan Cetinkaya visiting London to fast-track the transfer.

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Scottish Sun

2 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Benjamin Sesko vs Viktor Gyokeres: How Arsenal's striker transfer targets compare as move for top target hits rocks

Scroll down to see the stats that matter for the pair STRIKING A BALANCE Benjamin Sesko vs Viktor Gyokeres: How Arsenal's striker transfer targets compare as move for top target hits rocks Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ARSENAL are searching for the missing piece to their puzzle, keen to add a deadly striker to their squad to help them go one step further than their three consecutive second place finishes. That search appears to have returned two options - RB Lepizig's Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Club's Viktor Gyokeres. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 Arsenal's move for Benjamin Sesko is stalling Credit: Getty 11 The Gunners are keeping Viktor Gyokeres as their backup Credit: Getty Mikel Arteta wants Sesko to be his big summer splash, but the Gunners have hit a stumbling block over wage demands. The Slovenian's camp are searching for a pay packet far in excess of what Arsenal are willing to pay the 22-year-old, an issue that is stalling a bid and could force a change of direction. Gyokeres is Arsenal's alternative option, with the Swede ready to leave Sporting after racking up an astonishing goalscoring record. Gyokeres wants to move to the Premier League and is up for grabs this summer, but the 27-year-old is becoming aware he is a second choice. READ MORE ON ARSENAL MARC MY WORDS Guehi makes summer transfer decision between Arsenal and Liverpool Arsenal haven't committed to either player yet and it looks like both are still viable options ahead of a crucial campaign for Arteta and his team. Here SunSport breaks down how each player stacks up against one and other and who might be the best fit for the Gunners... Benjamin Sesko Age: 22 Club: RB Leipzig 24/25 apps: 45 24/25 goals: 21 24/25 assists: 6 11 Sesko has been tipped to become one of the best strikers in the world Credit: Getty Benjamin Sesko is regarded as one of the brightest sparks in world football, a young striker with the potential to be a world beater in the future. That's reflected in his numbers, stats that show he isn't the finished article just yet, but a diamond that needs polishing by a top manager instead. Sesko scored 21 goals from 45 appearances last season, six more than the return of any Arsenal player, but some way off the numbers that the top strikers across Europe put up. He is playing in a league that is considered as one of the best in world football, with the Bundesliga's reputation far better than the Portuguese top flight. While he managed four goals in eight Champions League appearances last term, proving he can do it against the best with goals against Juventus, Atletico Madrid and indeed Gyokeres' Sporting Lisbon. In the Bundesliga, Sesko scored only 13 goals - comparable numbers to the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Luis Diaz in the Premier League. But for what he might lack in clinical finishing, Sesko makes up for in raw ability. Standing at an imposing 6ft 5in, the Slovenian is a physical specimen who can dominate in the air, unleash impressive pace when needed and offer support beyond finding space in the box. 11 11 Sesko scored twice against Juventus in the Champions League 11 The striker influenced the game across the pitch In fact, under 10 per cent of his touches came inside the box this season - a figure that will be appealing to Arteta as a manager who likes his players to be involved all over the pitch. His aerial ability will also be another huge draw for Arteta and set piece coach Nicolas Jover, who will be dreaming of the damage the Gunners could do with Sesko's leap in the box. The striker shows off his monstrous leap every time he scores - jumping into the air and coming miles off the ground - and that ability has come in handy with 57.4 per cent aerial success rate last term. Sesko might not be the finished article, but there's buzz that he could one day be one of the best striker's in the world. Leipzig teammate Yusuf Poulsen already thinks he's the best player he's played alongside. He said: "He's the best I've played with. If you look at his abilities, he has everything a top number nine needs… strength, shooting, technique, everything.' Viktor Gyokeres Age: 27 Club: Sporting Lisbon 24/25 apps: 52 24/25 goals: 54 24/25 assists: 13 11 Viktor Gyokeres scored more goals than anyone else in Europe's top 10 leagues last season Credit: Getty If Benjamin Sesko is the unfinished article, is Viktor Gyokeres the ready-made goal machine? Gyokeres scored an astonishing 54 goals in 52 appearances for Sporting this season, making him the deadliest forward in Europe. In the league, Gyokeres scored 39 goals in just 33 games - registering seven assists alongside that return too. However, there are question marks over how much those goals mean when they come against the quality of opposition that Sporting are facing in the Portuguese top flight. Against the likes of Porto, Braga and Benfica (the top sides in the Primeira Liga alongside Sporting), Gyokeres managed only two goals in six games. While of the 39 goals he did score in the league, almost A THIRD of them were penalties (12). However, it's hard to look past such an impressive record, regardless of the opposition. Those firmly in the Gyokeres camp will also point to the stunning Champions League hattrick he scored against Manchester City as an example of his ability against top sides, however two of those were penalties too. Although he isn't as tall as Sesko, Gyokeres still stands at 6ft 2in and is as much of a physical presence as Sesko in the box. Players often seem to fall off him as he uses his wide frame to bulldoze into goalscoring positions. 11 11 Gyokeres was on fire against Manchester City in the Champions League 11 He scored a hattrick against the Premier League side That said, he is far less imposing in the air than Sesko, something that could be putting Arsenal off making him their number one target. One positive for the Gunners is that Gyokeres is no stranger to the English game, having played for Brighton, Swansea and Coventry in the earlier stages of his career. While Gyokeres could also solve the frustration many Arsenal fans have about their players failing to shoot often enough. The former Sweden international attempted 4.5 shots per game last season, almost two more than the 2.6 averaged by current first-choice striker Kai Havertz. Gyokeres is also impressive with the ball at his feet, creating the second most chances of any other Primera Liga last season and ranking third for attempted dribbles. But if all the stats add up and Gyokeres is available, why isn't there a queue out of the door to sign him? Well, it appears the concern over the quality of Portuguese football is a genuine one, and one with a history of not paying off. Arsenal will want assurances that their Portuguese purchase is a Bruno Fernandes and not a Darwin Nunez.

The Sun

2 hours ago

• The Sun

Benjamin Sesko vs Viktor Gyokeres: How Arsenal's striker transfer targets compare as move for top target hits rocks

ARSENAL are searching for the missing piece to their puzzle, keen to add a deadly striker to their squad to help them go one step further than their three consecutive second place finishes. That search appears to have returned two options - RB Lepizig's Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Club's Viktor Gyokeres. 4 4 Mikel Arteta wants Sesko to be his big summer splash, but the Gunners have hit a stumbling block over wage demands. The Slovenian's camp are searching for a pay packet far in excess of what Arsenal are willing to pay the 22-year-old, an issue that is stalling a bid and could force a change of direction. Gyokeres is Arsenal's alternative option, with the Swede ready to leave Sporting after racking up an astonishing goalscoring record. Gyokeres wants to move to the Premier League and is up for grabs this summer, but the 27-year-old is becoming aware he is a second choice. Arsenal haven't committed to either player yet and it looks like both are still viable options ahead of a crucial campaign for Arteta and his team. Here SunSport breaks down how each player stacks up against one and other and who might be the best fit for the Gunners... Benjamin Sesko Age: 22 Club: RB Leipzig 24/25 apps: 45 24/25 goals: 21 24/25 assists: 6 4 Benjamin Sesko is regarded as one of the brightest sparks in world football, a young striker with the potential to be a world beater in the future. That's reflected in his numbers, stats that show he isn't the finished article just yet, but a diamond that needs polishing by a top manager instead. Sesko scored 21 goals from 45 appearances last season, six more than the return of any Arsenal player, but some way off the numbers that the top strikers across Europe put up. He is playing in a league that is considered as one of the best in world football, with the Bundesliga 's reputation far better than the Portuguese top flight. While he managed four goals in eight Champions League appearances last term, proving he can do it against the best with goals against Juventus, Atletico Madrid and indeed Gyokeres' Sporting Lisbon. In the Bundesliga, Sesko scored only 13 goals - comparable numbers to the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Luis Diaz in the Premier League. But for what he might lack in clinical finishing, Sesko makes up for in raw ability. Standing at an imposing 6ft 5in, the Slovenian is a physical specimen who can dominate in the air, unleash impressive pace when needed and offer support beyond finding space in the box. In fact, under 10 per cent of his touches came inside the box this season - a figure that will be appealing to Arteta as a manager who likes his players to be involved all over the pitch. His aerial ability will also be another huge draw for Arteta and set piece coach Nicolas Jover, who will be dreaming of the damage the Gunners could do with Sesko's leap in the box. The striker shows off his monstrous leap every time he scores - jumping into the air and coming miles off the ground - and that ability has come in handy with 57.4 per cent aerial success rate last term. Sesko might not be the finished article, but there's buzz that he could one day be one of the best striker's in the world. Leipzig teammate Yusuf Poulsen already thinks he's the best player he's played alongside. He said: "He's the best I've played with. If you look at his abilities, he has everything a top number nine needs… strength, shooting, technique, everything.' Viktor Gyokeres Age: 27 Club: Sporting Lisbon 24/25 apps: 52 24/25 goals: 54 24/25 assists: 13 4 If Benjamin Sesko is the unfinished article, is Viktor Gyokeres the ready-made goal machine? Gyokeres scored an astonishing 54 goals in 52 appearances for Sporting this season, making him the deadliest forward in Europe. In the league, Gyokeres scored 39 goals in just 33 games - registering seven assists alongside that return too. However, there are question marks over how much those goals mean when they come against the quality of opposition that Sporting are facing in the Portuguese top flight. Against the likes of Porto, Braga and Benfica (the top sides in the Primeira Liga alongside Sporting), Gyokeres managed only two goals in six games. While of the 39 goals he did score in the league, almost A THIRD of them were penalties (12). However, it's hard to look past such an impressive record, regardless of the opposition. Those firmly in the Gyokeres camp will also point to the stunning Champions League hattrick he scored against Manchester City as an example of his ability against top sides, however two of those were penalties too. Although he isn't as tall as Sesko, Gyokeres still stands at 6ft 2in and is as much of a physical presence as Sesko in the box. Players often seem to fall off him as he uses his wide frame to bulldoze into goalscoring positions. That said, he is far less imposing in the air than Sesko, something that could be putting Arsenal off making him their number one target. One positive for the Gunners is that Gyokeres is no stranger to the English game, having played for Brighton, Swansea and Coventry in the earlier stages of his career. While Gyokeres could also solve the frustration many Arsenal fans have about their players failing to shoot often enough. The former Sweden international attempted 4.5 shots per game last season, almost two more than the 2.6 averaged by current first-choice striker Kai Havertz. Gyokeres is also impressive with the ball at his feet, creating the second most chances of any other Primera Liga last season and ranking third for attempted dribbles. But if all the stats add up and Gyokeres is available, why isn't there a queue out of the door to sign him? Well, it appears the concern over the quality of Portuguese football is a genuine one, and one with a history of not paying off. Arsenal will want assurances that their Portuguese purchase is a Bruno Fernandes and not a Darwin Nunez.

Daily Mirror

2 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Arsenal face Rodrygo transfer wait as Real Madrid's stance on sale emerges

Arsenal have identified Rodrygo as a top summer target in their search for a quality left winger but it may take time for a deal for the Real Madrid superstar to materialise Arsenal may have to play a waiting game to land Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo. The Gunners are chasing an elite level left winger and the Brazil international is on their radar as an ambitious target for this summer. Real Madrid may be willing to allow Rodrygo to leave this summer - but would demand in excess of £70m and his wage demands would make him one of Arsenal 's top earners. Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has had conversations with a raft of top clubs, agents and stars this summer and there is a belief that Real Madrid may be willing to do business. ‌ Rodrygo, 24, may also fancy a fresh challenge even though he currently makes up one of football's most fearsome forward lines with Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe. ‌ But Arsenal know that Real Madrid's stance may soften as the transfer window drags on and if they have to offload or lower their demands then it is likely to be later in the window. It would be a gamble as they have already seen another top target, Athletic Bilbao' Nico Williams, get lined up for a move to Barcelona. But there is a genuine interest in Rodrygo and it now remains to be seen whether they can progress on it and get encouragement - or have to look elsewhere. The left winger, though, remains a top priority. Arsenal will also have to balance the potential cost of a top left winger with the price of a new No9 with RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko emerging as the favoured target. They have courted Sesko for more than 18 months, they nearly got him last summer and have put in groundwork to land the Slovenian striker. ‌ But RB Leipzig have been holding firm on a price in excess of £70m while Berta is also known for chasing multiple targets and then proceeding with the best deal. That is why Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyökeres is still a strong possibility and Aston Villa 's Ollie Watkins is also on the radar because Arsenal want to strengthen in several positions and cannot blow all their money on one target. They have already lined up a £51m move for Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi and that deal will be confirmed and announced imminently. Berta has also been looking at the defence and the chance to shake it up and improve the back-up options. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.