Manchester United are increasingly at risk of missing out on Viktor Gyokeres after Premier League rival Arsenal held “very advanced” talks with the 27-year-old striker’s agent today, according to a report from Portugal.
Under the tutelage of Ruben Amorim, who swapped Lisbon for Manchester himself in November, Gyokeres has emerged as one of the standout forwards in Europe since signing for Sporting CP two years ago from Coventry City.
In 102 games for Sporting, Gyokeres has returned an impressive 97 goals and 28 assists, propelling the Lions to back-to-back Primeira Liga titles as well as winning the Taca de Portugal this season.
The Sweden international’s contract contains a €100 million release clause but reports indicated he had reached a gentleman’s agreement with Sporting executives that they would listen to offers worth €70 million this summer.
United are prioritising a new number nine after a dismal season for the existing attacking unit. Gyokeres is believed to be a “dream” target with Amorim actively pushing for a reunion with his former pupil at Old Trafford.
However, Sporting’s president, Frederico Varanda, has repudiated the idea of the gentleman’s agreement, instead demanding a fee as high as €80 million to sanction the Swede’s departure amid widespread interest in Europe and the Saudi Pro League.
Gyokeres’ reaction was one of anger, informing Sporting he would never play for the club again and removing reference to the Lions from his social media account.
In response, Varanda escalated the dispute with his star player, revealing Sporting would not accept the €70 million fee and refused to be swayed by “blackmail and insults” in a bombastic public release.
“Now blackmail and insults, Sporting will not accept. One thing is certain: Sporting will not accept 60 million plus 10. As of today, Sporting has not received any proposal for Gyokeres,” the president stated earlier today.
However, CNN Portugal reporter Nuno Farinha reveals Gyokeres’ agent was holding talks with Arsenal executives on the same day, adding further fuel to the fire at the José Alvalade Stadium.
Farina contends, “Arsenal is the club that Gyokeres has wanted from the very beginning. Gyokeres wants to play for Arsenal, he has stated this desire very openly to his agent. (…) Officially, there has not been an offer yet, but there have been many contacts. (…) This time, it seems that there will be [an offer].”
Arsenal were thought to be prioritising a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko but reports suggest the Gunners are growing frustrated with the Bundesliga team’s refusal to budge on their valuation of the 21-year-old.
They have also been keeping tabs on Gyokeres as an alternative with new sporting director Andrea Berta a big fan of the Swede. And it appears this loggerhead in Leipzig has now seen Arsenal turn their full focus towards Lisbon.
United are likely to need to sell in order to facilitate a deal for Gyokeres, particularly if Sporting are demanding a higher fee than initially anticipated.
Arsenal would not face the same financial limitations, as well as being able to offer the 27-year-old the guarantee of Champions League football at the Emirates next season; a crucial distinction in contrast to a move to Old Trafford.
Amorim’s “dream” target may set to complete a switch to England only for it to become more of a nightmare for the Portuguese coach when he faces his former protégé next season.
Featured image Gualter Fatia 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.
