Manchester United look set to miss out on Viktor Gyokeres with Premier League rivals Arsenal closing in on a deal.
Ruben Amorim enjoyed a brilliant relationship with Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting Lisbon, but they won’t be reuniting in Manchester this summer.
Gyokeres prefers a move to Arsenal and now transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the North London side are closing in on a final agreement for the Swedish striker.
🚨💣 Arsenal are now getting closer to signing Viktor Gyökeres after new round of talks in recent hours.
Gyökeres will NOT return for training at Sporting as he’s fully focused on leaving the club; Arsenal are now advancing.
Nothing done yet but discussions underway. pic.twitter.com/4VV5mzMts9
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 6, 2025
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With Ineos struggling to get sales over the line for the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony, United simply don’t have the funds to compete with Arsenal for a £70m+ Gyokeres deal.
But United are still in the market for a new centre-forward and there is one option that will help fans quickly forget about Gyokeres.
Victor Osimhen in action for Galatasaray.
Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images
Ineos must pursue Victor Osimhen after Viktor Gyokeres snub
With United facing Arsenal on the first day of the 2025/26 season, it means Gyokeres will face Amorim at Old Trafford in a few weeks.
If United head into that opening game without a new striker of their own, the mood around the Theatre of Dreams will understandably be downbeat.
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But there are several Gyokeres alternatives for Ineos to pursue and Victor Osimhen must be at the very top of the shopping list.
Osimhen is keen to join United and is charmed by the idea of playing in the Premier League. United’s lack of European football shouldn’t be an issue.
Napoli want £63.5m for Osimhen this summer, which could end up being a slightly cheaper fee than what Arsenal are paying for Gyokeres.
Man United can afford to wait for Victor Osimhen deal
Ideally, Amorim wanted signings completed ready for the start of pre-season training on July 7 – this Monday.
However, it seems the £62.5m deal for Matheus Cunha will be the only signing made with talks ongoing for Bryan Mbeumo.
United had their hands tied behind their back for the Gyokeres saga due to a lack of cash. Ineos need to complete sales to raise the budget this summer but so far that has proven difficult.
Amorim has told five players to leave, with none of them expected to return to training on Monday. If United can finally start raising cash through sales, a deal for Osimhen could become possible.
READ MORE: Victor Osimhen transfer future up in the air, Napoli striker attracted to ‘burning magnetism’ of Man Utd
Unlike Gyokeres, United should have a clean run at Osimhen with the 26-year-old still yet to decide his future.
United’s first Premier League game of the season could see Osimhen go head-to-head with Gyokeres at OId Trafford.