Viktor Gyokeres Makes Manchester United U-Turn After Initial Snub

Arsenal face stiff competition in their pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres.

Viktor Gyokeres Makes Manchester United U-Turn After Initial Snub

Abigael Wafula 08:22 - 27.06.2025

Viktor Gyokeres has changed his stance and is allegedly now open to joining Manchester United after initially rejecting them.

Viktor Gyokeres has shifted his focus to Manchester United, making them the frontrunners for his signature weeks after snubbing the Red Devils.

Viktor Gyokeres, who has an £85 million release clause in his contract, had initially attracted interest from Manchester United, who had placed a fee of €60m (£50m) with €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons on the table and there were reports that Sporting might accept £59 million.

However, Sporting's president, Frederico Varandas, refuted the claims and in a press conference, said: "I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60 million plus €10 million because I never promised that. To this day, Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres—neither today nor last season."

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Has Viktor Gyokeres Changed His Mind?

Viktor Gyokeres reconsiders Manchester United
Viktor Gyokeres in action for Sporting Lisbon || Imago

According to the Mirror, the Swedish striker has reportedly reversed his decision to prioritise Arsenal, potentially paving the way for a reunion with manager Ruben Amorim.

The 27-year-old is at the centre of a complex transfer saga this summer. Despite scoring 54 goals in 52 games for Sporting Lisbon last season, he is eager to depart and test himself in a more prominent European league.

However, securing a move has proven more challenging than anticipated. Sporting Lisbon insists they have not received any official offers.

Club president Frederico Varandas has even accused Viktor Gyokeres' agent of falsely claiming a 'gentleman's agreement' for a £59 million transfer fee.

Viktor Gyokeres' representatives believe Sporting's asking price, rumored to be around £86 million, is excessive for a player who has netted 97 goals in 102 games since joining from Coventry City two years ago.

This disagreement has led to a significant rift, with reports suggesting Gyokeres may refuse to return for pre-season training.

Despite turning down a £55 million offer from Al-Hilal last month, preferring to remain in Europe, Viktor Gyokeres has not attracted the level of interest he expected. Real Madrid, Liverpool, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona have all seemingly ruled out a move.

This left Arsenal and Manchester United as the primary contenders, with Arsenal initially believed to be Viktor Gyokeres' preferred destination due to their Champions League qualification and potential title challenge.

However, Arsenal's pursuit of RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, with a potential £60 million deal on the horizon, has seemingly opened the door for Manchester United.

Recognising this shift, Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly signalled his interest in joining Manchester United through intermediaries. A reunion with his former manager, Amorim, now at Old Trafford, appears increasingly likely.

Even a move to Manchester United might require patience. With Matheus Cunha already signed and Bryan Mbeumo expected to join, United needs to offload players before making further significant investments.

The club is reportedly willing to sell several first-team members, particularly Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho, none of whom are in Amorim's plans. They also hope to sell Antony to Real Betis soon.

Once these departures are finalised, Manchester United will likely reignite their pursuit of a top striker, a priority after last season's disappointing attacking performance. It appears Viktor Gyokeres is now prepared for that striker to be him.