Manchester United ready to pay £70m for Arsenal target
This summer’s transfer window is keeping Premier League fans holding their breath. It’s no surprise to see Arsenal and Manchester United fighting over the same piece, but this time the situation calls for a fine pulse and smart money. Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting Lisbon’s Swedish striker, is now one of the most coveted names. The striker has made it clear that he prefers to join the Gunners, but that does not mean that the door is closed to other ambitious suitors with chequebooks in hand. His clause scares more than one.
Viktor Gyokeres: the summer jigsaw for Arsenal and Manchester United
Arsenal have been pushing the negotiations for weeks. As Pedro Sousa reports for Leonino, the Gunners are still the only ones holding formal talks to get Gyokeres out of José Alvalade. The London club are close to the figure demanded by Frederico Varandas, Sporting’s president, which is around 80 million euros (70 million plus 10 million in variables). The nuance lies in the form of payment: Arsenal are offering five million less up front, something that for now, is holding up an agreement that seemed to be on track. The Swedish striker, described as a “phenomenal” attacker, wants Champions League football. Arteta’s side can give it to him. United, no.
Would Gyokeres change his mind without Europe?
There is a curious nuance to this tussle: Manchester United are not yet launching an official offensive because they know their absence from the Champions League complicates everything. Sousa claims that even if the “Red Devils” prepared those 80 million, Varandas could not even attend them. But what if Gyokeres got fed up of waiting? Therein lies the angle that many overlook: the player’s patience. Arsenal may entice him today, but too much delay could open the door to United, Juventus or Atletico. For Ruben Amorim, signing a pure “nine” like Gyokeres would solve some of the goalscoring problems they had last season. The risk is obvious: investing a fortune without the European showcase that the Swede craves.
That’s why we think Arsenal should move now and give in on that minimum difference of five million. To fall by the wayside for such a small detail would be absurd for a club that wants to consolidate itself as a Premier League favourite. And watch out for Juventus and Atlético. They are less noisy, but they are always on the lookout. If Gyokeres values a project where he can be an absolute star, he might look at Turin or Madrid as tempting alternatives. In the end, every euro and every minute counts in these races. This signing is more than a number; it is the sign of how Arsenal and United understand their immediate future. And, frankly, it would be a blow for the Gunners to see a player who has already winked at them slip through their fingers.