Viktor Gyökeres’ time with Sporting CP is coming to an end amid admiration from Manchester United and other European clubs.
Manchester United are in urgent need of attacking reinforcements this summer after a dismal 2024/25 campaign that saw them slump to 15th in the Premier League, largely due to a lack of firepower up front.
Bruno Fernandes led the scoring charts with 19 goals, followed by Alejandro Garnacho and Amad with 11 apiece, while Rasmus Højlund added 10. No other player hit double figures in all competitions.
The club have already agreed a deal to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves, and there is growing optimism at Old Trafford about completing a move for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo as well.
Despite that, United are still in the market for a central striker. Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres is one of their top targets, having netted 97 goals in 102 appearances for the Portuguese side — 66 of them coming under Rúben Amorim in just 68 matches.
Gyökeres’ relationship with Sporting is quickly unravelling
Earlier this week, it was reported that Gyökeres was growing frustrated with his current club after it was revealed that, despite their president Frederico Varandas agreeing with the Swede that they would accept an offer of £50 million plus £9 million in add-ons for him from any club, they have since been demanding a fee of £67 million.
Now, further details have emerged surrounding the disagreement, with the Portuguese outlet Record Gyökeres has informed Sporting that he will not play for the club again.
He is said to have communicated this decision verbally in the past few hours, citing frustration over what he sees as a breach of a gentleman’s agreement to sell him for a £59 million package made last September.
The club has yet to issue an official response, though president Frederico Varandas is expected to speak today at the opening of a museum extension in Leiria.
Should there be no progress, Gyökeres is prepared to cut short his holiday in Sweden and publicly share his side of the story — something he has so far avoided out of respect for the fans.
Record also confirms that four clubs are currently in the race for the striker: Al-Hilal, Juventus, Arsenal, and United.
United are holding back on their Gyökeres pursuit
While United’s moves for Cunha and Mbeumo have been swift in comparison to previous years, they are yet to formalise their interest in Gyökeres with club-to-club talks. However, English media have reported that they are staying up to date on the player’s situation.
According to transfer journalist Ben Jacobs, United are more likely to make an official approach to sign the Swede in July, as they must first focus on selling players.
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“Where there’s confusion, I think, is the advancement of this deal because Manchester United likely will focus on outgoings and then put a lot of their effort into finding a number nine in July,” Jacobs explained earlier this week.
“That’s more preferable in terms of putting that financing onto the next financial year, but also we know, despite the fact they want to be decisive in the market, they’re not going to be rash.
“They’re not looking to do everything in the month of June, they’re not in the Club World Cup – the deadline today doesn’t really have a bearing on Manchester United, so I think we’re going to have to be patient with the Viktor Gyökeres saga.”
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