Manchester United fans feared the worst yesterday when the news broke that Arsenal were leading the race to sign Sporting CP’s goal machine, Viktor Gyokeres, and that the player preferred a move to the Emirates over Old Trafford.
Gyokeres’ agent had been in a London meeting with the Gunners, it was reported. Arsenal were set to make a “concrete proposal” for him.
Added to this came Sporting’s president, Frederico Varandas, publicly refuting Gyokeres’ camp’s claim that there was a gentleman’s agreement the player could leave the club for €60 million plus €10 million in bonuses (a £60 million package). Varandas hinted that the amount the Lisbon club were seeking would be €80 million (around £68m).
A final bubble was burst when it was reported that United had to sell players before they could buy a centre forward, with nothing on the immediate horizon for any of those expected to leave – Marcus Rashford, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho or Jadon Sancho.
However, this morning, the news looks considerably better for the Red Devils as they aim to capture one of Europe’s most prolific strikers.
First, Record (today’s paper edition, page 5) have revealed that United were also in talks yesterday and that while the Swede was leaning toward a switch to the Emirates, both clubs had put offers forward.
“Arsenal and United are going to make offers,” the outlet reports. “Gyökeres’ agent met yesterday with directors from Arsenal and Manchester United and is preparing, Record has learned, to present an official proposal to Sporting in the next few hours.”
This puts United firmly back in the picture. It suggests they are not, in fact waiting to sell players before they open negotiations, nor that they believe the 27 year old has chosen Arsenal.
Yesterday evening, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano (via Give Me Sport) also said that “It’s an open race for Gyokeres. He remains on Arsenal’s list in case the [Benjamin] Sesko deal doesn’t happen, Man United have called his agents again over the weekend.”
And this morning, journalist Graeme Bailey confirmed (also via Give Me Sport) that Arsenal’s priority was still Sesko, and said “Sesko knows Arsenal have maintained talks with Gyokeres, and it’s true that the Gunners have held talks over the Sporting CP striker.
“They have, and are talking to Leipzig – but they are not talking to Sporting yet.
“They really are progressing with both, but Sesko still further forward at this point.”
It must be said that, with Bailey and Romano both insisting Sesko remains Arsenal’s top target, Record’s claim that they are about to make an offer for Gyokeres must be thrown into doubt.
Whatever the case, it certainly seems that United are still very much in the running for the Swedish striker and that he is still willing to join United, whether or not his preference would be the Champions League football Arsenal can offer.
Featured image Gualter Fatia via Getty Images
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Red Billy
Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
