No but I can remember a few who did similar to get out !

Yes, that’s the discrepancy that made the Gyökeres situation feel so weird to me.

https://x.com/eurofootcom/status/194400 ... -j6VVZXEoA

PSG kick off tactic. It’s an odd one, I understand teams like PSG who are great at the high press will see an opportunity to nick the ball high but they also have incredible technical players who can build up from half way/kick off.

I think last season has made people think we’re miles away from the title but it was a freak season for us with injuries.
In terms of our best players we’ve retained the same team for at least 2-3 seasons. The only first 11 player moved on is Partey and I think we have a great replacement in Zubimendi. The key was always bringing in better attackers and more depth in attack. Not necessarily that we don’t score enough goals in total but more goals in crucial moments, having those players who score individual moments, or produce something out of nothing to break down a deep defence.

You only have to see the 3 times we were knocked out of the cups last year, overall play was far better than the goals scored. We lack killers and we missed our best creators and goalscorers for big periods - get them all back for this season AND add the likes of Gyökeres, Madueke and Eze and we should be right up there in all comps

I love transfer updates like this

Gyökeres did not comply with Sporting's order and did not show up this Saturday in Alcochete before the team's departure for the training camp in the Algarve.

The Swedish forward is officially on strike.

Sporting's bus left without Gyökeres.




…. Update the bus has now stopped for a toilet break and greggs

Sporting president Varandas on Gyökeres not showing up for pre-season: “If they don't want to pay Viktor's fair market value, we're very comfortable with that for the next three years”.

“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”.



Apparently it’s some kind of row about agents fees

It feels like we have gone from 1 row about money with Sesko to another. I mean wtf. You’d have to assume it gets resolved but wow.

The player striking is unusual so maybe the row is indeed about agents fees however it doesn’t help Arsenal who still don’t have a bloody striker and the season starts soon.

Bet 365 odds at 20/1 on Ollie Watkins joining us after the summer window. That’s worth a punt right now

I mean, what a statement, I sincerely hope they struggle to get targets after this.

What a d*******

Clearly Sporting betraying the verbal agreement they had

As you say it's not going to make them an attractive place to go, if they behave like this

Plus 'market value' chat is gash, the player only wants one club, so the market is not looking so good for Sporting

It’s a problem around weird agents fees…… not sure Arsenal can do anything about this




As part of the deal to sign Gyökeres from Coventry City, the English club will receive 10 percent from a sell-on clause. An additional 10 percent of the fee will go to Gyökeres’ agent Hasan Cetinkaya as part of a controversial clause agreed with Sporting.

Gyökeres still has an accounting value of €15m (£13m) which will be deducted, as well as a five percent ‘solidarity mechanism’.

Ultimately, Sporting would only receive a fraction of the transfer fee, which will also likely be spread over multiple years. All that for the cost of losing their most prized asset – it’s easy to see why Sporting are sticking to their asking price.



https://www.unitedinfocus.com/transfer- ... no-choice/

A problem entirely of Sporting's own making then

Entirely depending how it was agreed.

I mean it’s unfair to ask Arsenal to pay up another 6 million quid for something that’s nothing to do with them and either the agents got it wrong or sporting have reneged on an agreement.

I mean 60 million quid plus 10 in add ons is fine for Arsenal

66 plus 10 takes the total deal to 76 plus big wages. Thats mega money.

George Eastham back in the early 60s. He refused to play for Newcastle and even took a temporary job as a pottery salesman to earn a wage! His case ended up in court and the players today with all the power have George to thank. He was a master craftsman in a bleak period for our club.

Sylvain Wilford refused to train with Bordeaux to force through his move to us in 2000.

Link

Hi Darren,

Not a bad summer's work.......Pires, Lauren and Wiltord.

I think its fairly obvious that the £52m spent on Madueke will not have helped our negotiating position as we try to agree fees for players.

However, what can you do? We need to get players in asap.

You'd think it would be in the interest of all parties, including Gyökeres' agent, to come to a deal.

Gyökeres' value isn't going to go up if he stays at Sporting. If all sides play hardball and Gyorkeres contract is concelled, it'll be a bigger mess for Sporting and the agent than for us.

Let's hope so, anyway.

How do you know this? *apologies* I read the link Top Gun provided. Personally I'd pay a bit extra just to make sure he is here for pre-season but not the full asking price. I also keep hearing about a gentleman's agreement. Is anyone sure if this is in fact true or not?

Just learning about article 17 and cancelling/buying out contracts

After the Protected Period (3 years into the contract) a player can terminate unilaterally by paying compensation. Compensation Calculation includes:
• Remaining salary
• Transfer value
• Fees spent to sign the player
• Sometimes performance-related clauses

Gyökeres has been there 2 years and if you do it inside 3 years the player could get a 4 month ban and there could be sanctions on the new club. I can’t see that happening even if wasn’t in the protected period anyway.

Sporting are basically practised at money gouging from the premier league and they’ll look to protect before anything else. They have an endless supply of young Portuguese players to sell on - their academy system is insane so I don’t think they’ll be too fussed about not being able to sign the next young Gyökeres.

Not sure this ends with Gyökeres at Arsenal..

The fact that Gyökeres has taken the very drastic measure to go on strike citing the gentlemen’s agreement suggests, at the least, that he and his agent thought there was one.

Thing is the total deal could reach 70 million for a 27 year old. Sounds a lot. Just paying another 3-6 million for agents seems unreasonable. Where do you draw the line

Henry winter seems to think it’s not as bad as thing suggest and the Valencia defender will get wrapped up next week too

Thing is if that article is correct sporting only get to recognise half of a 60 million fee. Admittedly this is their own doing as they shouldn’t have agreed to give Coventry 10% plus the agent the same. Then Arsenal want to pay the full 60 m fee over several years. There’s going to have to be a compromise that won’t be easy and seems difficult to see whilst they are throwing insults at each other. Sporting are on a hiding to nothing and their best outcome is the player actually stays otherwise they lose in every scenario

Arsenal target Gyökeres faces Sporting disciplinary action

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/arti ... 4e02gqz8lo

Wake me when it's over.

The link has this Varandas chap saying there was no gentleman's agreement. Highlights the importance of getting stuff written down. Scriptum manet.

The thing about Gyökeres is that no one knows just how successful he will be in the PL. Can he adapt to the increased quality, pace and physicality of the PL and translate his Portuguese goalscoring prowess into a new and much harder league?

20+ PL goals and £70m will look like a bargain, 10 or less and an inability to adapt and it becomes an expensive mistake.

With the lack of alternatives it just feels like a gamble we have to take. I bet Arteta would love to continue to play Havertz as a 9 but even with his new bulked-up physique I am not sure he has the finishing capabilities or instincts of a goalscorer.

The problem is Gunny that each summer seems more inflationary than the last and what might have looked a like a comparatively decent fee a year ago suddenly looks a bit cheap now. Sesko and Gyökeres have both found this to their detriment.

As you say, always get it down in writing.

On alternatives if this doesn’t work out I saw last night that signing Ollie Watkins would involve paying villa a 50 million quid fee and offering Watkins a contract worth 45m+ too. You’re looking at around a 100m commitment just to sign Watkins.

The options on this must have the club scratching their heads, they need to work out how they can identify strikers before they become household names. We have to pay through the roof

That's more than for Gyorkeres or Sesko. If Watkins was available at a reasonable price I'd go for it.

I'd agree there but then Gyorkeres did get a hatrick against City in the CL. Given the amount of possession we have in many matches and the fact he has already been in England I'd say he is good for 20plus.

Bayern interested in Trossard if they can’t get Diaz from Liverpool.

Yes. The EPL is stronger, but it would be really surprising if he dropped from a sustained rate of more one goal per 90 minutes over two seasons to under 1/2 per 90.

Even at that rate would massively help us. Would be good for 25 goals in a season there or thereabouts

A number of reporters saying big progress made in Nwaneris new contract and Arsenal are confident. 5 year deal incoming.

Ornbomb Gyökeres

https://x.com/david_ornstein/status/194 ... 2SVs7ar8TQ

Gyökeres to be wrapped up before we go on tour. Eze next?

If Eze comes too and gets the 10 shirt it will instantly become the most popular players jersey in years !

Gyökeres has to take the 10. Can’t kick Jesus off the 9 shirt, but Gyökeres seems like the kids of guy who would back himself to wear such a number.

Seems like a really cool guy. Some charisma too.

Gyökeres agent waived his fee! It has allowed Arsenal and Sporting to agree a fee. £55m with £8.6m add ons

For a guy with his goal record that’s a good fee. Darwin Nunez went for close to £80m