Viktor Gyokeres 'makes major Man United transfer decision' after £60m Sporting 'pact'

Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres has supposedly refused to shut the door on a move to Manchester United despite their lack of Champions League football.

The Swedish sensation is not expected to still be at Sporting for the start of the 2025-26 season, having accrued an astounding 54 goals and 13 assists from 52 matches in 2024-25.

Barcelona sporting director Deco recently confirmed that his team were not pursuing a deal for Gyokeres, seemingly leaving the door open for Arsenal to make their move.

The Gunners can offer Gyokeres the chance to play in Europe's top tournament next season, although they are also exploring a deal for RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko.

It remains to be seen which way Arsenal go, but there appear to be more concrete conversations taking place with Sesko's camp, and Mikel Arteta will not be bringing in both men in one window.

Gyokeres 'open' to Ruben Amorim' reunion at Man United

Should Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta ultimately decide to prioritise a deal for Sesko, the floor will open to other interested parties in the race for ex-Coventry City striker Gyokeres.

Chelsea and Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in the 27-year-old, who would also be able to play Champions League football at Stamford Bridge or Anfield.

However, a reunion with Ruben Amorim at Man United has unsurprisingly been mooted for some time, and talkSPORT claims that Gyokeres would welcome a second stint under his old Sporting boss at Old Trafford.

Amorim would supposedly 'relish' working with Gyokeres again, and the Red Devils can sign the Scandinavian for £60m thanks to a 'verbal pact' with Sporting, who have agreed to reduce his release clause by £25m.

The two men are said to have stayed in contact ever since Amorim swapped Sporting for the Theatre of Dreams, but Man United must sell before they can buy, having already snapped up Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a £62.5m agreement.

Gyokeres has amassed a staggering total of 97 goals and 28 assists in 102 appearances for Sporting across all competitions since his 2023 arrival from Coventry, prior to which he made a Premier League squad three times for Brighton & Hove Albion in the 2018-19 campaign.

Man United 'facing' unexpected competition for Gyokeres deal

Premier League giants are supposedly not the only teams to have been alerted to Gyokeres's situation, as Juventus are apparently monitoring developments closely too.

The Old Lady could lose both Dusan Vlahovic and Randal Kolo Muani in the same window, as the former has been tipped to leave for some time while Kolo Muani is due to return to parent club Paris Saint-Germain.

In addition, Saudi Pro League duo Al-Ittihad and Al Quadisiya are believed to be interested in signing Gyokeres, but the player has no desire to leave Europe at this moment in time.

Gyokeres could be part of a new-look Man United attack next term, as the Red Devils are also working on a deal for Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo but have reportedly seen a first offer rejected.

However, Bruno Fernandes will be staying at the club for next season after rejecting an approach from Al-Hilal, and the Portuguese playing alongside Cunha and Gyokeres up top has the potential to be devastating.

Written by
Ben Knapton