Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres believes his €100 million (£84 million) release clause likely deterred clubs like Arsenal from pursuing him this summer.
The Swedish international had an outstanding 2023-24 season in Portugal after transferring from Coventry City, where he scored 43 goals and provided 15 assists in 50 games.
He was considered as one of Arsenal’s potential forward targets this summer, along with Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko, before the club secured Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline day.
Chelsea had also expressed interest in Gyokeres, making a bid of £73 million including bonuses, which Sporting rejected in January.
Now 26, Gyokeres has joined the Sweden squad for Nations League matches against Estonia and Slovakia and, for the first time since the summer transfer window closed, commented on his future.
He acknowledged that his large release clause was probably “too high” and, while happy at Sporting, hinted at the possibility of a future move.
‘They [Sporting] wanted most of the starting players to stay and held us tight. That’s how it turned out, but I enjoy Sporting very well, so for me it was no problem to stay,’ he told Aftonbladet.
‘It was probably a bit too much because nothing came of it. Of course it’s a lot of money. But we’ll see what happens next window.’
He added: ‘Nothing happened and it feels like I had a pretty good season. So yes, that’s probably why there was simply no move.
‘But that’s what Sporting thinks I’m worth, and then you have to respect that.’
‘I enjoy myself very much in Sporting and can’t complain about anything, so it’s absolutely no problem for me to stay. Of course you aim to test other leagues and a higher level, but I have no stress.’
