Manchester United are “keeping an eye” on Viktor Gyokeres’ situation with Sporting CP after Jorge Mendes entered negotiations to help “unblock” the 27-year-old striker’s exit, according to a report from Portugal.
Gyokeres is considered a “dream” target for United as the club seeks to address the urgent need for a new number nine at Old Trafford.
Advances were made to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town but the England U-21 international rejected United’s interest in favour of a switch to Chelsea.
However, Ruben Amorim was thought to have always preferred a move to reunite him with Gyokeres, his former protégé in Lisbon.
Gyokeres believed he would be able to leave Sporting this summer for a fee in the region of €70 million (£59m) after reaching a gentleman’s agreement with the club they would not hold out for his €100 million release clause.
But, in an explosive twist, Sporting president Frederico Varandas rejected this arrangement in a bombastic public statement, denying its existence and vowing the club would not be held to ransom through “blackmail and insults.”
Gyokeres’ response was a furious one. The Sweden international removed any trace of Sporting from his social media accounts and vowed to never play for the Lions again as the dispute reaching breaking point.
And while this breakdown in relationship between player and club may have appeared helpful to prospective suitors, it has in fact created a logjam with Varandas refusing to compromise on his position.
Portuguese newspaper Record contends Arsenal are “best-placed” to win the race for Gyokeres after receiving assurances the 27-year-old was prioritising a move to North London.
But Arsenal’s opening proposal – worth €65 million (€55m + €10m in add-ons) – fell below Sporting’s demand and was rejected. In response, the Gunners “have frozen the process and are close to an agreement for [Benjamin] Sesko, from RB Leipzig.”
Similarly, Serie A powerhouse Juventus are also in the race but reports from Italy suggest the Swede has turned down a switch to Turin as he has communicated a “preference for moving to the Premier League,” Record reveals.
The report states United remain keen observers in the background but the lack of European football at Old Trafford next season was a significant factor in Gyokeres’ decision to prioritise a move to the Emirates.
However, Portuguese super agent Mendes has now entered the fray to help facilitate Gyokeres’ departure from Lisbon as he possesses excellent contacts with the various clubs involved, including United.
The Red Devils enjoy a strong working relationship with Mendes, who is one of the most influential figures in European football. Last summer, the agent was instrumental in deals to bring Leny Yoro (LOSC Lille) and Manuel Ugarte (Paris-Saint Germain) to Manchester.
If Mendes is playing a leading role in any deal to prise Gyokeres from Sporting, United will be well-placed to win the race and provide Amorim with his first-choice target to lead the line at the Theatre of Dreams.
Featured image Carlos Rodrigues via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
