Viktor Gyokeres’ long and painful transfer saga this summer has taken another twist today, when days ago it looked like Arsenal had finally reached an agreement with Sporting over the player’s future.
Animosity and acrimony
Sporting president Frederico Varandas has been less than honorable throughout the process, reneging on a gentleman’s agreement with the player to let him leave for €60 million this summer.
Manchester United have been consistently linked with Gyokeres, but Arsenal have always been in the driving seat, with the Swede now on strike to force a deal through and his agent having waived some €7 million in commissions to bridge the divide between the clubs.
British journalists such as Ben Jacobs insist that “Manchester United haven’t made a bid for Viktor Gyökeres and have no plans to do so,” and that “talks remain advanced with #AFC with a breakthrough expected soon.”
Understand Manchester United haven’t made a bid for Viktor Gyökeres and have no plans to do so.
Talks remain advanced with #AFC with a breakthrough expected soon.🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/tLFsZUhXQe
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 20, 2025
However, the Portuguese media are singing a very different tune today.
United close to agreement for Gyokeres
According to TV station Sic Noticias and corroborated by the normally reliable O Jogo, United have swooped in and reached near agreement with Sporting over the striker’s transfer.
O Jogo report that “Sporting are close to an agreement with Manchester United for the signing of the Swedish forward.
“This information was confirmed by O JOGO, which can also reveal that the deal will be sealed with the sums requested by Frederico Varandas: 70 million euros, plus 10 million in variables.
“The only thing left to do is convince the player, who is determined to wear the London club’s jersey.”
A Bola are also corroborating Sic’s claim, stating:
“A last-minute transfer bombshell, complete with a major turnaround. In a supersonic move against Sporting and taking advantage of the apparent negotiating split with Arsenal, Manchester United submitted a proposal to secure Viktor Gyokeres ‘s immediate signing and is reportedly very close to an agreement with the Lions.
“The proposal presented by the club managed by Ruben Amorim will be slightly higher than that of Arsenal and will be worth between 70 and 80 million euros.”
While the 26 year old is “adamant about his choice” of Arsenal, A Bola believes that “at this point, a reunion with Ruben Amorim, who coached him at Sporting and with whom he won the national championship, seems a likely scenario, albeit a difficult one, given the player’s willingness (or lack thereof).”
We are treating the new reports with a great deal of scepticism here at The Peoples Person, but it must be said that three of the more reliable Portuguese sources agreeing on a story usually means there is some truth to it.
However, it is more likely the case that Varandas has leaked the story to all three, hoping to panic Arsenal into agreeing to his last-minute demands and finally bringing the saga to a close.
If, however, the story is true, and United were to capture Gyokeres’ signing at this stage, it will surely go down in history as one of the biggest transfer coups ever.
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.
