Manchester United agree a huge transfer fee to sign £100million rated striker who has already agreed personal terms with the Reds
Manchester United’s pursuit of Viktor Gyökeres appears to have hit a wall, as the striker has taken a bold stand against Sporting CP over a failed promise regarding his transfer. Despite his stellar season—scoring 54 goals and registering 13 assists in 52 appearances—the Swedish striker finds himself at the center of a tense standoff that has become one of the summer’s biggest transfer sagas.
Gyökeres and his representatives were confident of a smooth exit this window, especially after allegedly receiving assurances last year that Sporting would let him go for around €70 million. However, Sporting president Frederico Varandas insists that no such deal was made, pointing instead to the €100 million release clause in the player’s contract as the only valid benchmark.
Feeling betrayed, Gyökeres has reportedly made it clear that he will not take part in Sporting’s pre-season preparations. According to Fabrizio Romano, the 27-year-old is devastated by the club’s refusal to honour what he believes was a verbal agreement and has chosen to go on strike in protest. This move is likely to heighten pressure on Sporting to reconsider their stance.
Meanwhile, Manchester United and Arsenal have both shown strong interest in the prolific forward. While United hoped that their manager Rúben Amorim’s existing relationship with Gyökeres would tip the scales in their favour, the player is understood to prefer a move to Arsenal, largely because the Gunners can offer Champions League football—something United currently cannot.
United are now assessing other options in the market. Names like Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, Moise Kean, and Christopher Nkunku have emerged as alternatives. Although the Red Devils remain loosely in the race for Gyökeres, Sporting’s steep valuation and the striker’s preference for Arsenal make a transfer to Old Trafford increasingly unlikely.
With Gyökeres refusing to return to training and tensions escalating behind the scenes, the coming days could determine whether this dramatic standoff ends with a blockbuster move or a drawn-out deadlock.
