First Arsenal player breaks silence following claims Viktor Gyokeres could join Man Utd
Arsenal’s chase for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres is still alive, despite a recent standoff in negotiations and swirling reports of interest from Manchester United. The Gunners made strong progress early on, reaching a personal agreement with the Swedish forward and settling on a base transfer fee of £54.8 million with Sporting. However, the deal has stalled over an £8.6 million bonus package that remains a major sticking point.
Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas is demanding that the add-ons be nearly guaranteed — linked to easily achievable targets like simple appearance milestones and consistent Champions League qualification. Arsenal, on the other hand, want those bonuses to depend on more ambitious goals, such as major achievements or standout individual performances. This disagreement over bonus structure is currently preventing the move from being finalized.
Amid this impasse, speculation emerged that Manchester United were ready to swoop in and hijack the transfer, especially given Gyökeres’ previous link with United boss Rúben Amorim. But Portuguese outlet A Bola has reported that Gyökeres has already turned down United’s approach and remains fully committed to joining Arsenal. This aligns with the views of BBC journalist Simon Stone, who stated that United are not actively pursuing the striker and are likely being used as leverage in the negotiations.
Gyökeres has left a strong impression across Europe, particularly after netting an astonishing 97 goals in just 102 appearances for Sporting. Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães, who faced him in last season’s Champions League, spoke highly of the forward’s quality, describing him as a serious challenge and a top-tier talent. Mikel Arteta was reportedly eager to include Gyökeres in the club’s preseason tour of Asia, but delays in the final agreement have pushed that plan off course.
Despite the hold-up, all signs indicate that Gyökeres has his sights firmly set on North London. Arsenal remain confident, but the deal now hinges on whether both sides can find common ground over the structure of the bonuses. If they do, the transfer could be sealed before the end of the month — with Sporting not budging from their total valuation of €75 million, it’s just a matter of how and when the payment is made.
