A leaked voice note from Manchester City chief Hugo Viana could finally push through Viktor Gyokeres’ 'dream' move to Arsenal. The Sporting Lisbon star is right at the top of the Gunners’ transfer shopping list.
Mikel Arteta’s side have already lodged a bid worth €55m (£47m) plus a potential further €10m (£8.5m) but that was rejected by Sporting. And since then, there has practically been silence from North London, with Arsenal’s pursuit being put on ice amid interest in alternative forward Benjamin Sesko.
The same cannot be said of Gyokeres' camp and Sporting Lisbon, however. The striker reportedly threatened to go on strike to force through an exit after believing that Sporting had changed the terms of his departure, while he also turned down clear-the-air talks with his current employers.
But it now appears that Gyokers’ agent would be willing to leak private talks with ex-Sporting and current Man City chief Hugo Viana to facilitate an exit. According to Portuguese outlet Record, Gyokores' agent Hasan Çetinkaya has evidence that backs up his side of the story.
He reportedly has a voice note from Viana agreeing to sell the striker for €60m plus €10m in add-ons (£51m plus £8.5m), following a meeting that was held on September 19 last year. Sporting president Federico Varandas has already given his take on the talks between Viana, Gyokeres and Cetinkaya.
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Speaking earlier this month, he said: "The agent spoke to us to add some clauses. Hugo Viana, as he always did, and very well, managed the relationship with the agents. This relational space is established with the sports director.
"One of the agent's biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause. Hugo Viana negotiated with the agents over several meetings until the agent demanded the presence of the president.
"At this meeting, which included the president, the agent and Viana, Gyokeres was not present. He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now. For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100 or 90 million euros.
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"In that same meeting, the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: 'It's not worth us setting a value because I don't know what will happen in a year's time. I don't know if it will be 40, 60 or 80. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million euros. From then on, I never spoke to the agent again, I never spoke to the player about departures or values.
"Now I see the agent in the press releasing information. I want to make one thing clear: Sporting has common sense and keeps its word. Gyokeres scored 63 goals and 10 assists. Fantastic performance. Certainly one of the best players to have ever stepped onto Portuguese turf. And Sporting will not demand the clause.
"Now blackmail and insults, Sporting will not accept. One thing is certain: Sporting will not accept 60 million plus 10. As of today, Sporting has not received any proposal for Gyokeres."
Record’s report further details that Gyokeres is willing to wait for what is his ‘dream’ move to Arsenal. He currently remains on holiday as the transfer saga continues.
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