Viktor Gyokeres’ £64million Arsenal transfer has reportedly been linked to a shooting and blackmail plot in Sweden.
Police are investigating why two gun shots were fired at the home of a relative of one of Gyokeres’ agents in Huddinge, near Stockholm, according to Swedish outlet ETC.
There are suspicions that the weekend shooting was connected to Gyokeres’ move after the relative apparently bragged about receiving a slice of the cash.
Gyokeres was at the heart of one of the summer’s biggest transfer sagas, which ended with Mikel Arteta finally landing his man from Sporting Lisbon.
It was also one of the most toxic episodes of the summer, with Gyokeres refusing to attend pre-season training with Sporting, with president Frederico Varandas insisting that ‘no one is above the interests of the club’ as he drove a hard bargain.
Now, according to The Sun, investigators wonder whether Gyokeres’ agent’s family member was being ‘pressured for money’ in a sick blackmail bid and attempted murder in his homeland.
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A representative for the striker said: ‘It is a very vulnerable industry where things like this unfortunately occur.
‘This shooting has nothing to do with me or football.’
Coincidentally, Sporting president Varandas said earlier this summer that ‘blackmail and insults’ would not persuade them to sell Gyokeres.
At the time and with the context in which he was speaking, he had appeared to say that in reference to Arsenal and Manchester United’s pursuits of the 27-year-old.
Varandas insisted they would not accept an insultingly low offer – though he would not push for the full £84m release clause in the striker’s contract.
He said in June: ‘I tried to take three days off, I came back yesterday. I saw so much information and counter-information that it is only fair to come and explain the process.
‘It started last year, when the season ended and Sporting became national champions. During the transfer market we saw that he was going to stay because there was no offer.
‘The agent spoke to us to add some clauses. Hugo Viana, as he always did, and very well, managed the relationship with the agents. This relational space is established with the sports director.
‘One of the agent’s biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause. Hugo Viana negotiated with the agents over several meetings until the agent demanded the presence of the president.
‘At this meeting, which included the president, the agent and Viana, Gyokeres was not present. He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now. For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100 or 90 million euros.
‘In that same meeting, the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: ‘It’s not worth us setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year’s time. I don’t know if it will be 40, 60 or 80. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million euros. From then on, I never spoke to the agent again, I never spoke to the player about departures or values.
‘Now I see the agent in the press releasing information. I want to make one thing clear: Sporting has common sense and keeps its word. Gyokeres scored 63 goals and 10 assists. Fantastic performance. Certainly one of the best players to have ever stepped onto Portuguese turf. And Sporting will not demand the clause.
‘Now blackmail and insults, Sporting will not accept. One thing is certain: Sporting will not accept 60 million plus 10 [in add-ons]. As of today, Sporting has not received any proposal for Gyokeres.’
Arsenal hope Gyokeres will be the striker they have been waiting for after years without a dedicated number nine.
The striker will be expected to hit the ground running after two outstanding seasons with Sporting which saw him score 97 goals.
