Viktor Gyokeres on strike! Striker to snub pre-season return in effort to force transfer to Arsenal after broken agreement with Sporting CP

Viktor Gyokeres may not turn up to pre-season in stunning turn of events as he attempts to force through a move from Sporting CP to Arsenal.

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• Gyokeres wants move away
• Favours Arsenal transfer
• May be prepared to snub pre-season with Sporting

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Reports by The Sun state that Sporting fear Gyokeres may not show up to the club's Cristiano Ronaldo Academy HQ for pre-season, amidst claims that the Swedish striker is prepared to go on strike. He feels relations with the club are broken after a 'gentleman's agreement' to sanction an exit worth less than £60million (€69.5m/$82m) was not held up by the club, who are demanding at least £68.5m (€79m/$93.5m). He had previously been given permission to join pre-season a week late, but the club increasingly feel he may not turn up at all.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This all only plays into the hands of Arsenal, who can use this increasingly tense situation between Gyokeres and Sporting to force through a deal. The Portuguese club may eventually need to lower their asking price, as they could otherwise be left with a star player on the books who no longer wants to be there. Manchester United and Juventus are also keen on the striker.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Gyokeres' €24m (£20.7m/$28.2m) move from Coventry City to Sporting in 2023 was a record sale by the English side. The Championship outfit reportedly have a 10% sell-on clause, which could explain Sporting's insistence on selling for a higher price. But if Gyokeres does go on strike, the club may have no choice but to concede these demands in order to complete a deal.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GYOKERES AND ARSENAL?

  Both parties will hope that any deal is complete before the Gunners jet off to Asia for pre-season on July 19. Gyokeres is said to be their top target but if a deal does not seem plausible, Mikel Arteta may switch his attention to other striker options such as Benjamin Sesko, Julian Alvarez or Ollie Watkins.