Sporting and Manchester United Very Close to an Agreement for Gyökeres as Arsenal Talks Break Down

Viktor Gyökeres, the Swedish striker who lit up the Portuguese league last season, is now on the verge of joining Manchester United. After weeks of transfer rumors and negotiations with Arsenal, it looks like Sporting CP and Manchester United are getting very close to an agreement. 

The deal has taken an unexpected turn. Arsenal, who had been working on this transfer since the start of the summer, is now losing ground. The Gunners have not been able to reach a final agreement with Sporting, and now Manchester United is stepping in strongly. 

Sources from Portugal’s SIC report that Sporting and United are negotiating a deal worth over €70 million, including bonus payments. This is almost the same amount that Arsenal had proposed. But Manchester United seems more likely to finalize the deal at this point. 

Arsenal had offered a fixed amount of €63.5 million, with the total possibly rising to €70 million if Gyökeres’ agent agreed to drop his €6.5 million commission. While this looked like a clever way to close the deal, Sporting’s president, Frederico Varandas, is not impressed. 

Varandas made it very clear that Sporting will not let Gyökeres go for anything less than his true market value.  

He said: “If they don’t want to pay fair market value for Viktor [Gyökeres], we are very comfortable with that for the next three years.” 

This strong statement shows how much Sporting values Gyökeres. And with Manchester United ready to meet the club’s demands, the transfer may now be heading toward Old Trafford rather than the Emirates. 

Gyökeres joined Sporting at the start of the 2023/2024 season from Coventry City in England. Sporting paid €20 million for him and gave him a contract that runs until 2028. He also has a €100 million release clause in his deal. 

Since arriving in Portugal, the 27-year-old striker has been nothing short of sensational. He scored 39 goals in 33 league games, making him the top scorer in Portugal’s I Liga. His speed, strength, and finishing ability have made him one of the most wanted strikers in Europe. 

The Premier League is his dream destination. Both Arsenal and Manchester United can offer him that. But now, Manchester United seems more focused and willing to finalize the transfer without playing hardball on the fee. 

Sporting is happy to keep the player if no club matches their asking price. They are in no rush to sell and believe that Gyökeres’ value will only rise. That gives them a strong position in these negotiations. 

The final decision could come down to what Gyökeres himself wants. If he prefers Manchester United’s project under Ruben Amorim or is more attracted by Arsenal’s style of play, he will have the final say. 

Fans are waiting anxiously to see what happens next. This could be one of the biggest moves of the summer transfer window if it goes through. 

Whether Gyökeres joins Manchester United or not, this story has shown just how competitive the transfer market can be. Nothing is final until the contract is signed, and for now, Gyökeres remains a Sporting CP player, but maybe not for long.