Viktor Gyokeres will not be making a switch to Manchester United this summer. That’s the latest coming out of Portugal, where fresh reports indicate the Swedish striker has officially ruled out the move to Old Trafford.
United’s part-owner INEOS had been hoping to bring the prolific striker back under the guidance of Ruben Amorim, his former coach at Sporting CP. Gyokeres has lit up the Portuguese league with astonishing tallies of 43 and 57 goals in back-to-back seasons, making him one of the hottest properties in Europe.
However, Portuguese daily Record (print edition, page 17) says the door is now shut. The publication reports that Gyokeres’ representatives have informed Sporting that Manchester United is no longer a viable destination.
While United reportedly reached out several times over the past week, interest from Arsenal appears to have overtaken them. According to Record, United’s offer lacked the persuasive edge needed to sway Gyokeres, who is now leaning towards Arsenal, especially as the Gunners prepare a second bid after their initial €55 million plus €10 million add-ons was rejected.
The report adds that although United were not entirely ruled out until recently, the striker’s camp never treated them as a top choice. Factors working against United include their absence from the Champions League, financial uncertainty around meeting the €80 million asking price, and the overall instability of the club during a major transitional phase.
Record claims the decision is now final: a move to United is off the table, while Gyokeres has his sights set firmly on the Emirates.
If this report holds water, Manchester United will have to explore other striker options ahead of the new season. Alternatives include Victor Osimhen from Napoli, free agent Jonathan David, Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace, FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.
That said, it’s also possible that this is a tactical leak from Gyokeres’ camp—perhaps a bluff to pressure Sporting into sticking to an informal €60 million + €10 million bonus deal. Removing United from the equation could ease Arsenal’s path and reduce Sporting’s leverage in any potential bidding war.
But it’s a risky strategy. Arsenal are still eyeing RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko as a primary target. Should the Gunners complete that deal, Gyokeres and Sporting could end up with limited options.
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