Arsenal and Manchester United are among Viktor Gyokeres' admirers but there are now huge doubts over whether Ruben Amorim's side can finance a deal after losing the Europa League final and missing out on Champions League qualification
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Viktor Gyokeres reacts after converting a penalty
Arsenal are now considered clear frontrunners for Viktor Gyokeres if they wish to conclude a deal
(Image: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)
Viktor Gyokeres has made a fresh admission over his future as he gears up for what is expected to be his final match for Sporting CP. The red-hot Swedish centre-forward has been tracked by Arsenal and Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window but he wants to sign off as a double winner after Sunday's Taca de Portugal final against arch-rivals Benfica. Speaking to Portuguese TV channel SIC Noticias ahead of the crunch clash, Gyokeres was asked what the future holds, to which he responded: "Hopefully you can expect I keep improving and score goals." When pressed whether he'd be staying put this summer, the ex-Coventry City striker added: “We’ll see. It’s the future. Football is like that, you never know what’s going to happen. As we saw this season, you never know what’s going to happen. And it’s the same thing now. We’ll see what the future holds."
READ MORE: Arsenal begin talks to wrap up summer transfer before FIFA Club World CupREAD MORE: What Arsenal and Man Utd target Viktor Gyokeres has told team-mates about transfer
Newly-appointed Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has been championing the potential signing of Gyokeres since arriving at the Emirates Stadium in March. And if the Italian chief has done enough to win over Mikel Arteta by convincing him to pursue a deal, Arsenal would now be considered clear frontrunners for Gyokeres' signature following Manchester United's Europa League final defeat to Tottenham in Bilbao. Ruben Amorim has been keen on a reunion with his former Sporting striker at Old Trafford but the 1-0 loss to Spurs is poised to have damaging implications for United's finances because they've now missed out on a golden ticket back into the Champions League where huge prize money is up for grabs. The Red Devils are already on the cusp of triggering Wolves star Matheus Cunha's release clause which is worth in the region of £62.5million. And if United want to continue spending cash of that magnitude they will have to make a number of high-profile sales with the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho among those that could depart.
Viktor Gyokeres warming up for Sporting CP
Viktor Gyokeres is set to leave Sporting CP this summer
Gyokeres wants to test himself at the highest level and play Champions League football next season while also competing for major silverware. Arsenal can offer him that, their budget would also comfortably allow them to finance a move but the sticking point is they've also considered other strikers such as RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, a long-standing target, as part of their extensive summer planning. Gyokeres, 26, has been hugely respectful to Sporting in the past few weeks despite facing countless questions over his future. There is a gentleman's agreement in place with the Portuguese club that will enable him to leave the club for a figure between £55m and £60m this summer which is significantly less than his £84.3m (€100m) release clause. Sporting were keen to reward Gyokeres for his loyalty as he did not push to pursue a new challenge in January following the departure of Amorim to United. It's understood that once again, out of respect for Sporting, Gyokeres has asked potential suitors not to formalise their interest in his services with official approaches until after his season has been concluded.
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