\n<\/p>\n
“To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres – neither today nor last season.”<\/p>\n
Gyokeres spent three seasons with Coventry City in the Championship before joining Sporting under Ruben Amorim.<\/p>\n
Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana was sporting director at Sporting last summer, when Gyokeres’ agent sought assurances about his leaving if a suitable offer arrived.<\/p>\n
“One of the agent’s biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause,” said Varandas.<\/p>\n
“He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now.<\/p>\n
“For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100m euros or 90m euros.<\/p>\n
“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 40m euros, 60m euros or 80m euros. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100m euros.'”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n