If you are a Manchester United fan, you are probably feeling pretty irritated that your club continues to be linked with a player who has reportedly said on multiple occasions that he does not want to join.
Yesterday, as reported here, while British reporters such as Ben Jacobs insisted that United have not made any approach for Gyokeres and have no intention of doing so, the Portuguese media were equally adamant, and unanimous, that the Red Devils have entered the race in a big way and are ready to meet Sporting’s €80 million demand.
The problem remains – and this is something all parties agree on – that Gyokeres remains resolute: he only wants Arsenal.
The plot thickens
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano attempted to explain the situation yesterday. His take is that it is intermediaries that are indicating to Sporting that United are willing to deal at that price. He insisted there has been no direct contact between the clubs, but that Sporting were just being made aware of United’s position.
📹🚨🗣️| Fabrizio Romano shutting down the rumours between Gyokeres and United:
“I was downplaying some reports on Sunday coming from Portugal on Man United hijacking the deal for Gyokeres.
As I told you was was an opportunity offered by intermediaries but Man United never sent… pic.twitter.com/Z0eF9Z0lNf
— UtdJoshua (@UtdJoshua03) July 21, 2025
This may or may not be the case, but once again this morning, the Portuguese media insist that Sporting and United are close to an agreement – not something that usually refers to an approach from intermediaries.
A Bola (this morning’s paper edition, page 6) report that “after contacting Manchester United, the club’s management became aware of the real interest.
“Furthermore, the Red Devils are reaching €80 million and a preliminary agreement will be close to being reached once the English club formalises the offer.”
The only snag stopping United from formalising their offer is that the player needs to be persuaded first. Record (this morning’s paper edition, page 6) are adamant that “Gyokeres only wants to be a Gunner, whether it is tomorrow or on the last day of the transfer window”.
More questions than answers
Given that even Romano has conceded United are still in the mix for the big Swede, the question that all United fans are asking is “what is the point?” Why would United embarrass themselves bidding (or making it known they will bid) for a player who has consistently said he does not want to play for them?
Even back in April when questioned about it, United’s head coach Ruben Amorim said he wanted players at the club who want to play for Manchester United and not just to take part in a particular competition (i.e. the Champions League).
A Bola suggest that “the possibility of the Portuguese coach contacting Gyokeres, who is on vacation in Mallorca, and being able to persuade him to change course cannot be ruled out. But it will be difficult…”
INEOS may be many things, but they are not stupid. They would not open this can of worms if they did not think Gyokeres would, in fact, be willing to reunite with Amorim and join Manchester United.
Possible scenarios
How do we make sense of all this? As far as we see it, there are four possible explanations:
1. Romano is partially right: intermediaries are trying to make a deal happen with no real conviction from either side, and it is being blown out of proportion by all the mainstream Portuguese media.
2. Sporting President Varandas or Gyokeres’ agent Hasan Cetinkaya is deliberately leaking this false story to try to panic Arsenal into meeting the Lions’ demands.
3. Amorim (or someone else at United) has already approached Gyokeres and they believe he is now open to the idea of joining United.
4. Gyokeres has grown weary at Arsenal’s penny pinching, his agent is unhappy that deal has still not been closed having waived his €7 million commission and they have contacted United to encourage them to make a move.
Whilst options 1 and 2 are still the most likely, 3 and 4 cannot be ruled out at this stage.
Featured image Carlos Rodrigues 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.
