Liverpool have entered the race with Arsenal and Manchester United to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, according to reports in Portugal.
Arsenal and United have held extensive talks to sign Gyokeres this summer but have yet to reach an agreement over a transfer fee with Sporting.
Earlier this month, Arsenal’s sporting director, Andrea Berta, met with his counterpart at Sporting CP, Bernardo Palmeiro, in Menorca to discuss a deal for the striker, who ended last season with 54 goals in 52 appearances.
According to Correio da Manha, Liverpool are now targeting Gyokeres as a potential replacement for Darwin Nunez, who has agreed to join Napoli but a transfer fee has not been agreed with the Serie A champions.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
The report claims that Liverpool have approached Sporting to discuss a fee for Gyokeres and the Portuguese club are demanding €80m (£68.1m).
Liverpool are said to view Gyokeres as a signing that will play a key role in helping the club retain their Premier League title next season, as well as strengthen the squad for a strong Champions League push.
Gyokeres has a €100m (£85.1m) release clause in his contract but Sporting have been willing to sell the 27-year-old for lower than that amount.
However, Sporting have been angered by suggestions that a set transfer fee had been agreed ahead of the summer transfer window, with the Portuguese club’s president, Frederico Varandas, criticising the striker’s agent.
‘Threats, blackmail and insults don’t work with me,’ Varandas said.
‘I can guarantee that Viktor Gyökeres will not leave for €60m plus €10m [£51m plus £8.5m] because I never promised him that.
‘This game that the agent is playing only makes the situation worse.
Reports in Portugal this week have claimed that Gyokeres is now ready to go on strike at Sporting in order to force through a move to Arsenal.
It’s understood that Mikel Arteta’s side is Gyokeres’ preferred destination having also received strong interest from Manchester United, who are unable to offer the striker the prospect of playing in a European competition next season.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.