Dost was one of the strikers linked with a move to West Bromwich Albion.
A Sporting Lisbon statement appears to contradict reports that West Bromwich Albion showed an interest in signing Bas Dost during the summer transfer window.
Record claimed that Dost turned down the chance to join West Brom, showing no interest in dropping to the Championship.
But according to the Dutchman’s employers, Sporting, there were never any suitors in England – let alone the Baggies.
Dost, whose Sporting goals tally reads: 93 in 127 games, has since moved closer to a reported €9 million (around £8.2m) move to Eintracht Frankfurt.
But a deal has yet to be finalised, prompting Sporting to release the following update, via O Jogo, denying that they are the ones to blame.
It reads:
“Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD (hereinafter Sporting SAD or Company) hereby, under the terms and for the purposes of complying with the information obligation that follows from the provisions of article 248-A, paragraph 1, a) Securities Code, inform the market as follows:
“1. In May 2019, Bas Dost informed the coach that he wanted to leave Sporting SAD;
“2. Days later, his agent met with the President of Sporting SAD and the sporting director, and reported that Bas Dost wanted to leave Sporting SAD because he thought he had finished his cycle at the Club;
“3. Following this conversation, Sporting SAD and the agent have been working together for the athlete’s departure;
“4. Over the past few months, there has been interest from various clubs in China, Russia, Turkey and Mexico. Bas Dost refused to even listen to the proposals, informing Sporting SAD that his decision was not based on financial but rather personal reasons;
“5. Although these proposals were much more financially attractive than their successors, Sporting SAD respected the player’s decision, looking for alternatives that met his interest and will;
“6. About a week ago, the agent informed Sporting SAD that Eintracht Frankfurt were interested in Bas Dost and that this club and league were meeting the wishes of the player, who has already reached agreement with the German club;
“7. Sporting SAD, which, as timely reported, has also reached a principle in accordance with Eintracht Frankfurt, was nevertheless surprised by the player’s last-minute financial demands that are preventing the transfer from being completed;
“8. Sporting SAD knows very well who it is posting and why it is putting the fake news in today’s press;
“9. SAD Management remains available to reach a win-win agreement, but will remain firm and uncompromising in defending Sporting SAD’s interests and immune from media pressure of this kind.”
West Brom added two new strikers to their squad ahead of the transfer deadline for Premier League and Championship clubs, recruiting Kenneth Zohore and Charlie Austin for a combined fee reported to be around £12m.
Dost’s teammate, the Brazilian winger Matheus Pereira, also arrived at the Hawthorns on a season-long loan deal.
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