The sporting president of Lisbon, Frederico Varandas, believes that Viktor Gyokeres will leave the club this summer, but has warned potential vooragers that they will not get the Swedish striker cheap.
Gyokeres, 27, is linked to a series of Premier League clubs after two productive seasons in Portugal, in which he scored 97 goals in 102 performances and sports for back-to-back league titles.
Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Varandas insisted that Sporting Gyokees does not have to sell, but will respect the player's dream to move when a club meets, which he says is a fair market price.
“Sport is very calm with regard to Viktor Gyokees,” Varandas told O Jogo. 'Exercising does not have to sell him, but we remain sensitive to the dreams of Viktor and one of our athletes.
'After weeks of meetings we do not ask for the release clause and we will be reasonable with regard to the price we ask for Viktor. Today I believe there is a strong chance that he will leave.
'We watched the market and I saw [Martin] Zubimendi, who is six months younger than Viktor, leaves for € 65 million. I saw Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, both ahead, but who in my opinion does not have the market value or quality of Viktor, who negotiated around € 75 million.
“Given the demands we consider honestly, I believe that Viktor could leave – unless he has the worst agent in the world, which is difficult for me to believe because he is one of the best football players in the world.”
Reports have suggested that Sporting will maintain around € 80 million (£ 67.7 million) for Gyokeres, with Manchester United and Arsenal under the clubs that are interested in the former striker of Coventry City.
United has already signed Cunha from Wolves this summer for £ 62.5 million and have also rejected several bids for Brentford Forward Mbeumo.
Varandas refused to confirm the exact figure that he expected for Gyokeres, but that it has made it clear that Sport will not accept a deal with a sniffing price and said: 'The player knows, the agent knows, and I can guarantee that Viktor will not leave for € 60 million plus € 10 million in add-ons.
“It's not about winning anything, it's that he just won't leave for that – absolutely not.”
Varandas said that the situation will play in two ways: a club will respect the market value of Gyokees and allow the striker to realize his dream, or he will remain on his contract with another three years.
“If Viktor stays, we will be very, very happy – and it will be a problem for our rivals,” he added.