I have no intention of backing down. Frederico Varandas, president of Sporting CP, declared that he could tie down Viktor Jokerez (27) for three years after he shouted for a "training boycott."
European football transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano reported Varandas' statement on the 13th (Korean time). He spoke about Jokerez's absence from preseason through Portugal's largest telecommunications company, 'Meo.'
Varandas said, "If we are not going to pay a fair market value for Jokerez, we can keep him for the next three years. If those geniuses who are devising this strategy think they are making it easier for the player to leave, they are completely wrong. They are only making it harder for the player to leave."
He continued, "No one can be prioritized over the club's interests. Anyone, really," and emphasized, "We are calm. Everything will be resolved with the closure of the transfer market, hefty fines, and an apology to the team."
Jokerez is a tall striker boasting a height of 189 cm. Coming from Brighton's youth, he gained experience through loans to St. Pauli, Swansea City, and Coventry City, and transferred to Sporting in the summer of 2023.
Jokerez has unleashed his potential on the Portuguese stage. From his debut season, he flaunted monstrous scoring ability with 43 goals and 15 assists in 50 official matches. He also lifted the trophy for the Primeira Liga championship. Jokerez gained further recognition last season, accumulating an astonishing 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 matches.
Jokerez set a remarkable record of 97 goals in 102 matches over two seasons. This summer, he is pushing for a transfer to Arsenal, sacrificing much in the process. Not only has he turned down offers from Saudi Arabia, but he also forfeited €2 million (about 3.2 billion won) from Arsenal's proposed annual salary of €8.3 million (about 13.3 billion won) to facilitate negotiations between clubs.
He even bravely broke up with his beautiful girlfriend. Jokerez had been publicly dating former supermodel Ines Aguillar since last year, but he chose to end the relationship when Aguillar discouraged him from transferring. He is truly using every method to push for a move to Arsenal.
Arsenal, which has set its sights on Jokerez as a key target, is making every effort to secure him before starting its preseason tour. However, they must overcome the obstacle of Sporting. Arsenal has already had an initial offer of €65 million (about 104.7 billion won) plus a bonus of €15 million (about 24.2 billion won) rejected for Jokerez.
According to Portugal's 'Record,' Varandas, the president of Sporting, is determined to secure a fixed transfer fee of €70 million (about 112.8 billion won) along with an additional €10 million (about 16.2 billion won) upon meeting target conditions. Although Jokerez's side claims that a gentlemen's agreement was made last summer, allowing him to transfer this summer for €65 million, Sporting's stance is different.
Ultimately, Arsenal's patience has reached its limit. Portugal's 'A Bola' reported that "Sporting does not allow compromise regarding Jokerez. A breakdown in negotiations is imminent. An Arsenal source stated that the club would give up on Jokerez," adding that "Arsenal has not expressed its intention to return to the Jokerez transfer negotiations throughout Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday."
In fact, Andrea Berta, Arsenal's sporting director, left empty-handed after negotiating in Portugal over the weekend. 'A Bola' reported that "Arsenal is definitely considering a retreat. A reliable source connected to Arsenal and familiar with the negotiations revealed that a contract termination is imminent," noting that "Berta expressed strong dissatisfaction and nearly lost patience. The current situation is extremely severe, and the transfer is not progressing and could even fall through."
Jokerez is also playing hardball by refusing to participate in preseason. Sporting has informed him to join the team training starting Friday, the 11th. However, he has already conveyed to President Varandas that he no longer intends to play for Sporting and has not shown up at Alcochete (the Sporting training ground).
President Varandas is also not backing down at all. He publicly announced that he would impose hefty fines on Jokerez and claimed that he could go for the next three years without selling Jokerez. 'Record' highlighted that "the possibility of launching disciplinary proceedings by Sporting is gaining momentum. The relationship between Jokerez and the club is completely strained," emphasizing that "the risk of a breakdown in negotiations is increasing."
For now, Arsenal and Sporting have decided to pause negotiations for a 'cooling-off period.' Sporting has left the door open for further negotiations but is reportedly unwilling to lower its demands. As a result, Arsenal is considering 'Plan C,' a much cheaper option, Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) for transfer.
Still, Jokerez is solely focused on Arsenal. He told 'France Football,' "This is football. (The future) is completely uncertain. I'm not thinking about the future. Let’s see what happens. The most important thing is to play for a club that truly wants me," adding, "Premier League? I spent several years there without playing a single match. So, I naturally want to play in the Premier League. It would be an incredible revenge!"
[Photo] ⓒGetty Images (No unauthorized reproduction and redistribution), Sky Sports, Goal.com, Jokerez, Sports Bible, Sport Social Media.
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