Real Madrid were offered the chance to sign Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, but they are focusing on other targets as new boss Xabi Alonso begins to shape his squad

Arsenal have been urged to shelve their interest in top strikers Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko and sign ‘unique’ Julian Alvarez instead. The Gunners have held talks with both Gyokeres and Sesko as they look to add a new striker to Mikel Arteta ’s squad.

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.