Arsenal and Chelsea transfer blow as top target to begin new contract negotiations including bumper £102m release clause

SPORTING LISBON are opening talks on a new mage transfer release clause for Viktor Gykores to “protect” them from the Premier League clubs circling.

The Swedish striker cost a club-record £17m last summer from Coventry City but he has already repaid that faith with his scintillating form.

AFPSporting’s hope to convince Viktor Gyokeres to sign a new deal with an improved release clause[/caption]

The 25-year-old has scored 27 goals in 33 appearances, as well as recording double figures in assists, to catch the eye of Europe’s big guns.

Both Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with the hotshot – with the latter allegedly having a £74m approach rejected in January.

Previous reports had claimed that Sporting Lisbon were holding out for the £87m release clause fee that was part of his package.

Now A Bola have claimed that the Portuguese league leaders want to secure him to a new agreement that would not only land Gyokeres a bumper pay rise but would also offer them “greater protection”.

They are well aware of the growing interest in their star striker.

As well as Arsenal and Chelsea, Bayern Munich are also keen to bring him to the Bundesliga while French giants Paris Saint-Germain have joined the transfer chase.

This update also adds that several Spanish teams are in the hunt – but a host of the interested clubs may soon be ruled out of signing him.

Sporting Lisbon are hoping that the reward of a pay rise would see Gykores pen his new contract and agree to a release clause of a whopping £102m.

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER

And that would ensure that any sale of their prized-asset would turn out to be a record departure for the club.

The agents of Gykores, who was snapped up by Coventry in 2021 after failing to make the grade at Brighton, are also allegedly making a trip to Portugal in April.

And Sporting will be looking to use that time to thrash out terms on the updated agreement.

Meanwhile, the transfer speculation does not seem to be having any adverse effect on the player himself.

He fired a hat-trick against Boavista on Sunday as the 6-1 victory ensured they remain a point ahead of rivals Benfica, who have played a game more, at the top of the table.

The forward will now be hoping to take that form on to the international stage with Sweden, who he has scored five times in 19 caps for.

They take on Portugal away tonight in a friendly before taking on Albania on home turf on Monday.