Manchester United target Viktor Gyokeres and his representatives are pushing club officials at Sporting to lower his price tag.
The situation around Viktor Gyokeres has grown very complicated in the past week after the player felt betrayed by the Portuguese club.
Gyokeres is ready to go on strike to force an exit this summer after feeling that the Sporting president went back on a gentleman’s agreement that he can be sold for around £60 million this summer.
Sporting’s president commented on Gyokeres’ future and admitted that Sporting will accept a lower bid than his £85m release clause, but a final asking price has yet to be set.
Reports suggest United have been calling Gyokeres ‘daily’ to keep up to date with the striker’s situation, and it seems he is pushing behind the scenes to work his way out of the club.
Viktor Gyokeres celebrating in a Sporting CP shirt
Photo by CARLOS COSTA/AFP via Getty Images
Viktor Gyokeres pushing Sporting to lower price tag
United have readied a bid for Gyokeres but while Ineos potentially thought Gyokeres was available for as little as €60 million, that price has now been bumped up.
According to CaughtOffside, though, Gyokeres and his representatives are pushing Sporting into accepting bids worth around €75 million (£64m) this summer.
Unfortunately, it has been widely claimed that Gyokeres would prefer to join Arsenal this summer, but if United move first and put a suitable bid on the table, a deal could still be salvaged.
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Gyokeres is still open to reuniting with Ruben Amorim in Manchester, even if the Red Devils have no European football to offer in 2025/26 having lost the Europa League final.
Whether or not United still have £64m to spend after already signing Matheus Cunha and submitting a £45m Bryan Mbeumo bid, though, is yet to be seen.
Viktor Gyokeres saga could rage on this summer
With Gyokeres falling out with Sporting over his asking price and gentleman’s agreement, it could be weeks if not months before this saga concludes.
The report from above claims that United are just one of nine clubs keeping tabs on Gyokeres this summer, but many will be waiting to see just how low his asking price drops.
It feels inevitable that Gyokeres will eventually leave Sporting this summer, but where to and for how much are the key questions to be answered.
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Financially, playing the waiting game for Gyokeres could suit United. The Profit and Sustainability Rules period (PSR) changes after June 30th which could free up more funds for transfer deals.
It also gives Ineos time to sell players such as Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho to raise funds.