Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly turned down the chance to join Manchester United and has set his sights on a move to Arsenal instead.
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Sport
20:11, 14 Jun 2025
Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring for Eintracht Frankfurt
Hugo Ekitike is a new transfer target for Manchester United(Image: Sebastian El-Saqqa - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
Manchester United have reportedly decided on their transfer alternative to Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, who has his heart set on a move to Arsenal.
The Swedish forward believes he needs to join a club competing in the Champions League next season and vying for the Premier League title.
United insiders have declined to comment on Portuguese reports suggesting the 27 year-old has expressed disinterest in reuniting with his ex-Sporting coach Ruben Amorim in Manchester, reports the Mirror.
However, it is believed that the Reds have already begun scouting for alternative targets - and are prepared to intensify their pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike.
Ekitike, a 22 year-old France Under-21 international, has also caught Liverpool's eye after netting 22 goals for the German side last season.
However, Frankfurt's £80 million asking price for the former Paris St Germain forward would need to be significantly reduced before United make an offer.
United have already been told that they will have to come up with an acceptable offer for Frankfurt, with the club's sporting director Markus Krosche telling Wiesbadener Kurier: "If the price isn't right, then he'll simply stay with us. We don't have to sell Hugo."
As for Gyokeres, the transfer saga around the Sweden striker has taken many twists and turns this week. On Thursday he took to the social media platform Instagram to break his silence on mounting speculation on his future, saying: "There is a lot of talk at the moment, most of it is false.
"I will speak when the time is right."
His comments came after Sporting president Frederico Varandas gave his understanding of the situation around a supposed 'gentleman's agreement' for the player to leave for around £60m instead of his £84m release clause.
"I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that," Varandas said. "To this day, Sporting has not received an offer for Gyokeres - neither today nor last summer."
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