It’s been another crazy day in the world of Viktor Gyokeres.

The striker tied to Premier League clubs had a whirlwind Saturday, beginning with an in-depth interview in a top European sports magazine. As his Sporting teammates commenced their pre-season activities without him, his club president capped off the day by putting him in a tricky situation.

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Let’s focus on that last development first, as it’s critical for Arsenal and Manchester United supporters eager to see the prominent Swede join their ranks next season.

Sporting president Frederico Varandas has been consistent with his comments regarding Gyokeres, only recently showing some flexibility on the striker’s release clause.

However, any hope of a cut price deal has now been ruled out by the executive, even with his key man playing hardball.

“We’re calm. Everything can be solved with the closure of the market, a heavy fine and an apology to the group,” Varandas said after Gyokeres failed to turn up for a pre-season trip to Nigeria.

“If they [Arsenal] don’t want to pay Viktor’s fair market value, we’ll be very comfortable with that for the next three years.

“If the geniuses who are devising this strategy think that this puts pressure on me to make it easier for him to leave, not only are they completely wrong, but they are also making it more complicated for the player to leave.

“No one is above the interests of the club. Whoever they are.”

Gyokeres joined Sporting in 2023 from Coventry for £16million, signing a contract until 2028 with a €100m (£85m) release clause.

Varandas, who has been one of the key men in getting Sporting back to the top of Portuguese football after years of chasing Porto and Benfica, has continually reiterated that it will be no problem at all if the right offer doesn’t arrive and Gyokeres fulfils the remaining years of his contract.

He had to keep his messaging up after, as expected, the 54-goal striker was absent from the club’s training ground ahead of their pre-season flight to Lagos.

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Gyokeres’ no show stole the headlines across Europe, taking them even from himself.

Earlier in the day, L’Equipe magazine France Football released a feature length interview with the 27-year-old who made some bold claims about his abilities.

Asked if he’s in the same conversation as elite strikers Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski, he replied: “I am part of it, that’s for sure. It’s difficult to classify me but, yes, I am at the same table as them now.

“I have to show that I am capable of maintaining these performances season after season. You have not seen the best Gyokeres yet.”

The Swede, whose preference for next season is Arsenal over United, also talked up his potential future team and how ‘impressed’ he is by Bukayo Saka.

He also addressed the mystery of his career – how he was so unremarkable in his previous English spells with Brighton and Swansea but is now seemingly on his way to the top.

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“The key was to start playing like I did when I was a child,” he explained. 

“At the beginning of my career, I was distracting my mind. By stopping overthinking on the pitch, I made my football more direct and instinctive. 

“That obsession with goals, which I’ve always had, is once again the essence of my game. I don’t think about anything other than scoring and winning, that changes everything.

“My career has taught me that, even in difficult times, you have to keep your childhood dreams alive. 

“Keep working, keep moving forward without slowing down, and think day by day because the future is too uncertain.”