Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has admitted his release clause may have proved prohibitive to buying clubs this summer but refused to rule out an exit in future transfer windows..
The Sweden international had been strongly linked with Arsenal following his stunning exploits in front of goal after leaving Coventry in the summer of 2023.
Gyokeres has scored 50 goals while registering 18 assists for the Portuguese giants in just 55 appearances and Standard Sport understands the 26-year-old has previously been scouted by the Gunners.
The striker, who is thought to have a release clause worth around €100million (£85m) in his contract, believes such a huge sum of money may have had an impact on the market available to him.
“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 much, so for me it was no problem to stay,” he told Sport Bladet.
“Of course. You want to play at the highest level. It (his €100m release clause) 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.
“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.”
Arsenal ultimately did not sign a striker this summer, instead bringing Raheem Sterling to the club on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea.
The Blues, who have also previously been linked with Gyokeres, also did not sign a recognised senior striker, despite another busy summer window during which they brought in 13 players.
