Arsenal’s £87m transfer target now admits ‘where I want’ to play after January

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Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres has now broken his silence about a transfer in January with Arsenal and Chelsea showing interest in a swoop for the winter window.

But while Mikel Arteta and Mauricio Pochettino are eager to bring Gyokeres back to England next month, the 25-year-old has handed Arsenal and Chelsea a blow. His comments will also be a huge relief for Sporting coach Ruben Amorim, who feared the Premier League interest.

Reports by Correio da Manha earlier this month suggested that Amorim fears Sporting are in jeopardy of losing Gyokeres. He no longer believes the €100m (£87m) release clause in their Sweden star’s contract is enough to stop Arsenal or Chelsea from eying a January transfer.

Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres

Gyokeres has also attracted further interest since joining Sporting from Coventry City back in July. He left the Championship side for an initial €20m (£17.5m), plus €4m (£3.5m) in add-ons. The Sky Blues also got a 15% sell-on clause, which can shrink over a five-year contract.

Sporting have relished their investment since Gyokeres arrived in Portugal with 17 goals and eight assists in just 20 appearances. He has further hit home 10 and created five goals in 13 Liga Portugal games. The 19-cap Sweden star also scored three in five Europa League ties.

Arsenal and Chelsea are now interested in Gyokeres’ transfer from Sporting as they strive to get a goalscorer in January. Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah (5) are the Gunners’ top scorers in the Premier League this season. While Nicolas Jackson (7) tops the Blues’ top-flight chart.

Viktor Gyokeres now breaks his silence about a transfer in January

But Gyokeres has now broken his silence about a potential mid-season transfer and has put a dent in Arsenal and Chelsea’s interest. The Stockholm native has promised Sporting’s fans that he will stay at the Estadio Jose Alvalade for the rest of the term and is very happy there.

“I think it’s a bit like when Sporting came in to sign me,” Gyokeres has told Record. “I’m very happy here and I don’t care about any interested parties, at the moment.

“I’m enjoying every day here and not thinking about what’s going on around me. Yes, there’s talk of big clubs. But, for now, it’s just news. That’s all.”

Gyokeres also added when Record directly asked if the striker can promise Sporting Lisbon’s fans that he will stay for the rest of the 2023/24 season: “Yes. This is where I want to stay.”