Viktor Gyökeres was all set to join Arsenal. The Gunners agreed a package worth about €63.5 million plus €10 million in add‑ons.
Gyökeres and his agent even waived extra fees to push the deal through. It sounded done. Then Sporting Lisbon allegedly pulled back, making new demands. Now it looks like the deal is in serious doubt.
Now it looks like Manchester United have re‑entered the race. Reports say United may offer more than Arsenal would possibly up around €80 million. And the move could be driven by their new head coach, Ruben Amorim, who worked with Gyökeres at Sporting.
So the transfer is no longer just between Arsenal and Sporting it’s a three‑way battle, with Gyökeres stuck in the middle.
A Breakdown of What’s Going On
Arsenal’s bid and Sporting’s shift
Arsenal thought they had a deal near €73.5 million (base plus add‑ons), backed up by Gyökeres’s willingness and Sporting’s verbal agreement.
They wanted the striker in time for their Asia tour. But Sporting reportedly changed their position, asking for more or better terms, especially on payment structure and bonus triggers.
This Isn’t Just Business Anymore
It got personal. A Bola and other Portuguese media say Gyökeres’s father was reduced to tears during the breakdown. Fans at Sporting have turned against Gyökeres, holding banners with lines like “I don’t cry for those who leave.”
Gyökeres pushes back
The striker has refused to return to training. Vans were seen moving his belongings from Lisbon, and he’s taken legal advice. He’s clearly signaled his desire to leave, even to the point of supporting his agent’s claims of a broken agreement.
Man United swoop
Now United are reportedly offering a higher fee, possibly €80 million (£69 m / $93 m). They have also reopened talks with Sporting and Gyökeres—under Amorim’s guidance. Sources say the deal is “very close” and “on the verge” of being agreed.
Gyökeres’ preference
He reportedly still wants Arsenal if he moves to the Premier League, mainly because of Champions League football and title chances. Still, he hasn’t ruled out United, mainly for his strong bond with Amorim.
Why This Matters for United and Arsenal
Arsenal need a true striker. Arsenal still haven’t find a proper striker, even with Havertz and Jesus trying to fill that role. Injuries and inconsistency have made that position a priority.
They’ve brought in players like Noni Madueke, Kepa, Zubimendi, and Norgaard, but they were banking on Gyökeres to complete the puzzle.
United are in the same boat. Rasmus Højlund hasn’t lived up to expectations, and options like Joshua Zirkzée are still too raw. They’ve missed out on Liam Delap and Hugo Ekitike already. That’s why United have been looking at players like Ollie Watkins, Nicolas Jackson, and Benjamin Sesko.
Out of the names being mentioned, Gyökeres feels like the one they’d trust most. He’s proven he can handle pressure.
Why Everyone’s Talking About Gyökeres Right Now
Gyökeres joined Sporting from Coventry City and quickly became one of the most dominant strikers in Portugal. He’s scored 97 goals in 102 games, which says it all. Some fans have even said he’s the best striker the league’s seen since Mario Jardel.
He’s helped Sporting win the league twice, collected personal awards, and even bagged a Champions League hat‑trick against Manchester City.
His current contract runs until 2028 and includes a €100 million release clause. But there’s been talk of a gentleman’s agreement between him and Sporting to let him leave this summer for less something around €70 million.
But Sporting’s president, Frederico Varandas, says there was never any deal like that. That’s where all this mess really started.
A Fan’s Voice from Reddit
One Sporting fan said it best:
“If you speak to anyone who watches the Primeira Liga they’ll tell you no one has ever seen a striker come in and dominate like Gyökeres… He’s been a different breed. The last player we saw that dominant was Mario Jardel.”
And another user added:
“We had 8 proposals last summer. He chose Sporting because of Amorim.”
That says a lot about how strong the player’s bond is with his former coach and maybe what’s pulling him toward United now.
The Story Behind the Breakdown
Things seemed on track back in March when reports suggested Sporting were ready to let Gyökeres go this summer for around €60–70 million.
That was well below his €100 million clause, and the understanding seemed mutual. But as the summer arrived, Sporting’s leadership took a different tone. President Varandas publicly denied there was ever a verbal agreement at that price.
Then came the Arsenal offer. It was detailed, structured, and seemed fair. But when Sporting asked for more, it sparked real frustration on Gyökeres’s side, and reportedly even from his father.
The striker’s decision to stay away from training, coupled with signs that he’s already moved out of Lisbon, tells you how badly he wants out. He’s even taken legal steps to fight for what he believes was promised.
Now, with Arsenal stalling, United have entered the room again. And they’re doing it with clarity. Amorim knows the player inside out, and he’s leading the charge to bring him in.
So Where Does This All Go from Here?
Right now, the deal seems stuck. What happens next really depends on how both clubs and the player decide to handle it.
First, there’s Arsenal’s response. They thought they had a deal, and all signs pointed to the player being on their tour plane this month. But now that Sporting are asking for more, Arsenal might decide to walk away.
They've been through messy transfer talks before, and the last thing they want is to waste time on something that might not even happen. Some reports suggest Arsenal could shift focus entirely if things don’t resolve soon.
Then there’s the player himself. Gyökeres clearly doesn’t want to stay at Sporting any longer, and he’s shown he’s serious about leaving, whether it’s with Arsenal or not. If Sporting refuse to budge, and Arsenal step aside, it’s not hard to imagine him giving United the green light.
And of course, you can’t ignore Amorim’s role. He’s not just a coach in this scenario. He’s someone Gyökeres trusts and respects, and that kind of relationship can tip the scale in a transfer like this.
Amorim is said to be pushing hard to reunite with him, and if Sporting accept United’s cleaner terms, that move could be wrapped up quickly.
Add in the growing tension between the player and Sporting’s board, the public backlash from fans, and the legal element and suddenly the simplest outcome might be for Sporting to accept the best offer on the table, even if it’s not the one they originally wanted.
This Isn't Just a Transfer – It's a Test of Loyalty, Trust, and Timing
This whole situation has gone far beyond numbers and paperwork. For Gyökeres, it’s personal. He feels let down by a club he gave everything to for two years.
At this point, it’s not even just about the transfer for him. He feels like Sporting told him one thing and then backed out of it, and that’s what’s really set him off. That’s why he’s refusing to go back to training. You can see how much it’s affecting everyone around him, even his dad got emotional about the whole thing
Arsenal feel the same way frustrated, maybe even blindsided, after working hard to meet demands and get everything in place. And now United, with Amorim steering the wheel, are in a position to turn the whole saga on its head.
Both Arsenal and United are finding someone like Gyökeres right now. He’s not just fast and physical, he plays with real intent. The guy’s hard to pin down in transition, but what makes him stand out is how comfortable he is holding up play when things slow down.
You don’t see strikers like him anymore. He works hard, beat defenders, and finds a way to make something happen even when the team find it hard. That’s exactly the type of player both teams have been missing.
But emotionally? This is about more than football. It’s about trust, broken promises, and the pull of personal bonds.
Whoever lands Gyökeres won’t just get a striker in form, they’ll get a player desperate to prove something. And that might be the scariest version of him we’ve ever seen.