Viktor Gyokeres is currently one of the hottest names on the transfer market. The Swedish striker, who has been a scoring sensation for Sporting CP, is now the subject of intense speculation, with several Premier League heavyweights keenly watching his situation.
Manchester United, under the guidance of Gyokeres' former manager Ruben Amorim, have now reportedly emerged as the leading contenders to secure the 27-year-old's services, attracted by his impressive tally of 97 goals in 102 appearances for the Portuguese champions.
Arsenal, Chelsea and even Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal have been mentioned, but a move to Old Trafford appears most likely at present, particularly with Arsenal also eyeing Benjamin Sesko and Chelsea pursuing Hugo Ekitike, having already brought Liam Delap to Stamford Bridge.
However, securing Gyokeres is far from a done deal for United, with lingering uncertainties, internal conflicts and external interest all posing potential obstacles to what would undoubtedly be a significant coup for the Red Devils – especially given their disappointing performance in the 2024/25 season.
Viktor Gyokeres 'furious' with Sporting
Gyokeres' patience with Sporting has reached its limit, with reports suggesting the forward is 'furious' over a broken promise. He has an £84m release clause in his contract, but it's believed a gentlemen's agreement was made that would allow Gyokeres to depart this summer if a bid of around £60m was put forth.
However, Portuguese outlet Record reports that Sporting are now hesitant to honour this deal, leaving Gyokeres feeling deceived. The club, having acquired him for £20m from Coventry City in 2023, now stand to make a substantial profit, and are demanding at least £67m.
This has naturally caused friction, with observant fans noting that Gyokeres has removed all mention of Sporting from his Instagram bio. It should be noted, he's also removed references to Sweden's national team and his sponsor, Nike.
Sporting's revised asking price may explain why Arsenal – previously thought to be favourites to sign the Swede – have lost interest. Gyokeres is anticipated to demand a weekly wage exceeding £250,000. Coupled with hefty agent fees, any potential deal becomes an expensive venture.
Mega offer rejected
Gyokeres has already turned down an astonishing £30m-a-year offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal, highlighting his desire to compete at the top level. The lucrative proposal, which would have placed him among the world's highest-paid players, was rejected, with Gyokeres favouring a move to one of Europe's elite leagues instead.
Al-Hilal, keen to secure a headline striker, set their sights on Gyokeres after their high-profile chase for Victor Osimhen fell through last week. Osimhen, like Gyokeres, is associated with several Premier League clubs and reportedly turned down a hefty £650,000-per-week offer from the PIF-backed team.
Manchester United transfer had '99% chance'.
United's pursuit of Gyokeres could have been wrapped up by now had the club secured a Champions League spot. Earlier this year, Amorim pinpointed Gyokeres as his prime attacking target and laid considerable groundwork for the transfer.
The Swedish striker was reportedly ready to sign for the Red Devils in a heartbeat if they'd triumphed over Tottenham in the Europa League final and nabbed a Champions League berth. Yet, United's defeat in Bilbao changed the narrative.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano once gave United a "99% chance", but their decision to chase Matheus Cunha has muddied those waters.
Manchester United are keeping the lines of communication with Sporting and Gyokeres' advisers open as they attempt to hammer out a transfer agreement. However, they face an uphill battle without the sweetener of Champions League football, which could make rival clubs' offers look more enticing.
What lies ahead?
As the transfer window's first deadline looms this Monday evening, Gyokeres' future remains unknown. The likelihood of him being swayed to Manchester might be boosted by Amorim's personal relationship with him and Manchester United's ongoing squad revamp, securing Matheus Cunha and potentially landing Brentford ace Bryan Mbeumo.
Still, if Arsenal's pursuit of Sesko hits a snag and they bow out, freeing him to join Al-Hilal, they might jump back into contention for Gyokeres.
Meanwhile, under-the-radar interest from other Champions League-qualified teams both within England and abroad continues to add suspense to United's bid.