The agent of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres acknowledges the challenges of his client staying with the club if manager Ruben Amorim departs this summer.
Amorim is highly sought-after in Europe and is a prime target for Liverpool as they search for a new manager following Jurgen Klopp’s impending departure from Anfield.
If Amorim leaves Sporting, Gyokeres may also consider leaving, as his agent Hasan Cetinkaya revealed that the manager was the primary reason Gyokeres joined Sporting initially.
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“I’m not surprised by the links between Ruben and Liverpool,” said Cetinkaya to Record. “It’s natural, given his exceptional work, which is exactly what clubs are seeking. If Ruben Amorim departs Sporting, it will be more challenging for Viktor to remain, as he joined because of Ruben. When we first met, I told Ruben, ‘Here is my boy, he came to Sporting because of you.'”
While Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in Gyokeres, neither club currently prioritizes him due to Sporting’s insistence on triggering his £86m release clause, dissuading potential suitors.
“It’s a substantial sum, only accessible to the elite clubs,” continued Cetinkaya. “Nevertheless, numerous top clubs are interested in Viktor. I can’t disclose specific club names, but they are elite clubs, including some from the Premier League, among others.”
Cetinkaya emphasized his decision to choose Sporting for Gyokeres over other interested clubs due to Amorim’s influence and developmental potential for the player.
“I selected Sporting for Viktor despite interest from eight other clubs,” he explained. “They offered more lucrative deals, and I could have taken him to the Premier League. However, I opted for Sporting because of Ruben Amorim’s potential to aid Viktor’s development, which ultimately altered his career trajectory.”
Regarding Champions League football, Cetinkaya noted that while it is prestigious, Gyokeres prioritizes other factors, particularly Amorim’s influence.
“While playing in the Champions League is an honor for any player, Viktor values other crucial aspects, with Ruben Amorim being one of them,” stated Cetinkaya. “Should Amorim depart, it would present challenges for Viktor’s continuity at Sporting.”