Gyokeres sell-on clause bombshell emerges as Man Utd and Arsenal battle it out

Manchester United and Arsenal are both in the hunt for Viktor Gyokeres, but it now looks like former club Coventry City will not earn anything from a sale despite previously agreeing a sell-on clause

Coventry City will reportedly not receive any money if Sporting CP sell Viktor Gyokeres this summer, despite having negotiated a sell-on clause in his contract. The 27-year-old striker has caught the eye of several of Europe's biggest clubs since becoming one of the most lethal forwards on the continent in the past two seasons.

Gyokeres netted a sensational 54 goals in 52 matches this term on his way to helping Sporting clinch a domestic double. Arsenal, Chelsea, Juventus and Manchester United, managed by his former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, have all shown interest in signing the Swede this summer.

While he has a £84.7million release clause in his Sporting contract, it was initially thought that a £59m bid would be enough for the Portuguese champions to part ways with their star player.

However, their president Frederico Varandas has since rubbished those claims, stating there is no gentleman's agreement in place to allow Gyokeres to leave for £59m. Varandas maintained that the only promise made to Gyokeres was that the club wouldn't demand his full release clause.

Regardless of the price tag Gyokeres eventually leaves Sporting for, Coventry may not see any financial gain from his sale. The Sweden international spent two seasons with the Championship side following an initial loan deal from Brighton, netting 40 goals in 97 games before joining Sporting for an initial £20m.

TalkSPORT has now reported that City sold their clause to Sporting last summer, waiving their right to a future transfer windfall in order to fund their own £18m transfer overhaul. The sell-on clause was said to be worth 10 per cent of any profit on the initial fee Sporting paid to originally sign the player.

However, the Coventry Telegraph reported last summer that the fee was actually reduced by just five percent after Sporting paid the Championship side €1m (£843,500), in addition to the player hitting “certain objectives” over the course of the season.

Initially, Coventry stood to gain 15% of any profit on the initial fee paid by Sporting if Gyokeres was sold on. This percentage was subject to change based on the player's performance, including goals, appearances and club honours, which were add-ons to the initial fee, and amount to €2m (almost £1.7m).

The Sky Blues are said to have received just over £2.5m in add-ons from the initial €20m (£17.5m) fee, bringing their earnings to date up to £20m.

Despite the speculation surrounding Gyokeres, Sporting's Varandas has stated no official bids have been lodged yet. CNN Portugal supported that claim while saying Arsenal are leading the chase for the striker's signature, with the Gunners being his preferred pick over United.

The report read: “Arsenal are the club that Gyokeres has wanted from the very beginning. Gyokeres wants to play for Arsenal, he has stated this desire very openly to his agent. Officially, there has not been an offer yet, but there have been many contacts. This time, it seems that there will be [an offer].”

Portuguese newspaper Record reported that Arsenal’s hierarchy met with Gyokeres’ representative, Hasan Cetinkaya, on Wednesday and an official offer from the Gunners is now expected.

However, reports elsewhere have stated Arsenal’s preference is to sign Benjamin Sesko this summer from RB Leipzig.