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The transfer saga surrounding Viktor Gyokeres has taken a bizarre twist after reports in Portugal suggested a response from his agent to 'blackmail' claims made by Sporting Lisbon was fake.
Man United and Arsenal target Gyokeres, 27, is at the centre of a war of words involving his club and his agent over an alleged agreement that the in-demand player could leave for a reduced asking price earlier in the season.
The Swede, who has an £84million release clause, was reportedly assured he would be able to leave this summer if a club met €60m (£51m), plus €10m (£8m) in add-ons.
But Portuguese outlet Record reported Sporting's board have made a U-turn and are now seeking a fee in the region of €80m (£67m), which is said to have infuriated Gyokeres to the point of threatening to strike.
In response, Sporting Lisbon chief Frederico Varandas claimed: 'Blackmail and insults don't work with me.'
Swedish outlet Aftonbladet reported his representative, Hasan Cetinkaya, had responded to the accusations by insisting he had proof of the agreement with Sporting that would allow the striker to leave this summer for £59m.
Viktor Gyokeres’ future has taken another turn amid a disagreement over his price tag
Gyokeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya (centre), has now weighed in on the saga
President Frederico Varandas hit back at Gyokeres saying he will not bow down to threats
But in a fresh twist, Record now reports the agent - which had gone viral and been picked up by several outlets - never actually made the claim.
The striker is understood to be 'furious' with president Varandas after discovering the news and reportedly told the club's bosses that he will never pull the Sporting shirt on again.
Gyokeres on Thursday broke his silence over the saga as he posted a cryptic message on social media.
He wrote on Instagram: 'There is a lot of talks at the moment, most of it false. I will speak when the time is right.'
Varandas has not taken to the threats kindly, with the president insisting he will not be held to ransom by Gyokeres.
'One thing you should already know is me better,' Varandes claimed as per Record. 'Threats, blackmail and insults don't work with me.
'I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60m+10m (£51m+£8.5m) because I never promised him that.
'This game that the agent is playing only makes the situation worse. To this day, Sporting has not had an offer for Viktor Gyokeres, neither today nor last season.'
The striker is understood to be 'furious' with president Varandas, after discovering the news
Arsenal are in the race to sign Gyokeres alongside Manchester United and Juventus
Vardanas wants to clarify what really went on in the meeting between the club and the player's agent last summer.
According to reports, the president has admitted that there was an agreement in regards to the release clause not needing to be met, but the fee they would indeed request was never agreed.
'It was agreed that Sporting would not demand the release clause at the end of the following season, especially because he was going to be 27,' added Vardanas. 'Then, we knew Viktor's dream of going to a club where he could fight for the Champions League and we have common sense.
'We guaranteed that we would not demand 100 million. In that meeting, the agent wanted to anchor the departure to a value, he spoke of 60 million, 70 million... And I said "there's no point in setting a value" because I don't know what will happen here in a year, if he gets injured, if he has a disappointing season... There's no point in setting a value, I don't know if it will be 40, 60 or 80. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million.
'From then on, I never spoke to the agent again, I never spoke to the player about departures and values. 10 months have passed and I see the agent in the press spouting information here and there, but Sporting has common sense, it keeps its word.
'The president of Sporting said that the club would not demand the clause and that we would adjust the value to Viktor's performance, he was one of the best players ever to step on the pitch in Portugal.'
Gyokeres has removed any reference to Sporting on his Instagram account, having also got rid of any mention of Sweden and Nike.
The 27-year-old is one of the most in-demand players this summer after scoring a staggering 97 goals in 102 matches for Sporting since joining in the summer of 2023.
