It was at that point that the entire saga took a turn. Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas accused Gyökeres’s agent of “blackmail” and rejected the existence of an agreement which would see the striker sold for well below his €100 million (£85.1 million, $115.4 million) release clause.

Manchester United have eyed up both Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres this summer with the Sporting Lisbon star now rejecting the chance to move to Old Trafford