Viktor Gyokeres could potentially have to pay a major fine if he refuses to play for Sporting and forces his way out of the club, with a lawyer revealing new details about a possible 'termination clause' in his contract.
Gyokeres, 27, has been the centre of the biggest transfer saga of the summer, with a move to Arsenal now seeming inevitable after weeks of negotiations.
The Swede has scored 97 goals in 102 matches over the previous two seasons making him one of the most in-demand strikers in Europe, with Man Utd also attempting a deal for the forward.
Despite Arsenal agreeing a fixed fee of £55m last week, talks over add-ons are stalling a deal.
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With Gyokeres refusing to return to Sporting for pre-season training, lawyer João Caido Guerreiro has told Portuguese outlet A BOLA a termination clause could now come into effect.
He wrote: "So let's talk about the law: what Gyokeres did, by missing work for five consecutive days without justification, is just cause for dismissal.
"Football players aren't just workers; they're financial assets of clubs: they have a release clause that allows clubs to sell them.
"Sporting could have initiated disciplinary proceedings against the player and dismissed him. And it certainly could, if Gyokeres' sports employment contract or Sporting's regulations so provide, impose heavy fines and other penalties on the player."
With Gyokeres' release clause set at €100 million (£85 million), there were fears the Swede may owe that amount to the club if he was dismissed for breach of contract.
However, the good news for the striker is that if activated, a termination clause payment must be proportional to the employee's salary.
Article 25 of the Sports Employment Contract Law states: "If the amount is manifestly excessive, it can be reduced."
Guerreiro added: "Now, there's no doubt that these clauses are excessive: if Gyokeres earns two million a year, he would have to work 50 years just to pay the clause. This is servitude, not freedom of labor. And fortunately, servitude was abolished long ago."
There is another ongoing case in Portuguese football, similar to Gyokeres' dispute with Sporting.
Francisco Conceição is set to forgo €6m (£5.2m) - waiving the 20 per cent of a transfer fee he was contractually owed - in order to facilitate a €30m (£26m) permanent move from Porto to Juventus this summer, after spending last season on loan at the Italian club.
What has Mikel Arteta said about Viktor Gyokeres?
Speaking for the first time since returning to pre-season, Mikel Arteta was asked about his side's business so far and any upcoming deals.
"I cannot comment on any player who is not part of our group yet," said Arteta.
"When we have something concrete to offer in any case to any player, we will do that."
"I'm very pleased, that's all I'll say," added Arteta, about Arsenal's business so far.
"There are a lot of parties and things that we have to bear in mind to get a player over the line and here. I'm very hopeful that we are going to do it very soon."
"There's still a long time in the window and we are seeking still, in terms of numbers, we are short and we have to improve the depth and quality of the squad.
"We are constantly looking in the market. Until that happens, focus on the players we have and focus on them and I'm very pleased with what I have seen in the last 10-15 days."
Topics: Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal, Man Utd, Transfer News, Football, Mikel Arteta
Tom Jenkins