Nigeria, July 13 -- The transfer tug-of-war over Viktor Gyokeres took another dramatic turn on Saturday as Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas released a hard-hitting statement in response to the Swedish striker's continued absence from pre-season training and ongoing speculation of a move to Arsenal.

Gyokeres was again missing in action during Sporting's pre-season activities, raising eyebrows and fueling rumours of a potential transfer to the Premier League. But Varandas, never one to mince words, made the club's stance crystal clear-Sporting won't be held to ransom.

"If they don't want to pay for Viktor's fair market value, well. here at Sporting we are all very comfortable with that for the next three years with Gyokeres stayin...