Viktor Gyokeres slapped with two punishments for Sporting 'strike' as club chief hits back

Victory Gyokeres will be slapped with a significant fine and forced to apologise to his team-mates after failing to return for Sporting CP's pre-season preparations, says the club's president. Frederico Varandas has spoken out and suggested they remain under no pressure to permit Gyokeres to leave on the cheap.

The Sweden international has been adamant he will leave Lisbon this summer and resolved to go on strike amid a dispute over the transfer fee he will be permitted to depart for. Sporting chief Varandas noted when the threat emerged that he would not be blackmailed, in an explosive statement.

But, after being required to come back late for pre-season, Gyokeres did not arrive on Saturday in time for his side's training camp. The squad departed for Lagos without the 50-goal striker after players were asked to report for 4:30pm on Saturday.

Now, Gyokeres, who is said to have already agreed personal terms with Arsenal, faces disciplinary action. And Sporting do not appear willing to allow the player's decision to ease their own negotiations with the Gunners which have already required a cooling off period.

“If they don't want to pay Viktor's fair market value, we're very comfortable with that for the next three years," said Varandas of suitors of the star striker who is tied down until 2028.

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"This strategy is also making it more complicated for the player to leave. Nobody is above the interests of the club. Whoever they are.

“We're calm. Everything will be resolved with the market closing, a hefty fine and an apology to the group”.

In an interview released earlier in the day on Saturday, Gyokeres spoke of his desire to return to the Premier League to prove his former team Brighton wrong. The Swede did not feature in the division however.

"I only think about scoring and winning. It changes everything," Gyokeres said. "Premier League? I spent several years there without being able to play a single match. So, of course, it's something I'd like to do. It would be great revenge!".

Despite seemingly planning to go on strike when the interview was conducted, Gyokeres suggested he was not thinking about his exit.

"The future? That's football, you never know. I'm not thinking about that [leaving], we'll see what happens. If something is meant to happen, it will.

"The most important thing for me is to play for a club that really wants me."

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