Viktor Gyokeres’ agent reveals the truth about huge Man Utd offer – ‘Behind our backs’

Viktor Gyokeres was involved in one of the summer’s major transfer sagas and the Arsenal forward saw Sporting CP attempt to move him to Manchester United before he left

Manchester United DID strike a deal with Sporting CP for Viktor Gyokeres this summer – but an agreement was reached behind the star striker’s back.

The Swedish forward’s entourage claim to have been kept out of the loop as the Red Devils offered a transfer fee higher than the sum Arsenal paid. Gyokeres ultimately moved to the Emirates in a £63.7million deal but experienced considerable conflict with his former club. The 27-year-old went on strike before the Gunners were able to agree a deal with the Portuguese side.

Arsenal’s No.14 was widely expected to leave Lisbon after two hugely prolific seasons in Portugal and failed to report for pre-season training as he attempted to force through a move that his camp believed had already been agreed. The north London side made Gyokeres their top target after moving on from Benjamin Sesko when the RB Leipzig striker’s wage demands became an issue.

Sesko eventually signed for United as the Red Devils splashed £74m on the Slovenia international. But Jonathan Chalkias, an assistant to Gyokeres’ agent Hasan Cetinkaya, has suggested Sporting were trying to push his client in that direction.

Chalkias explained that a move to Arsenal brought Gyokeres more than the lavish sums offered by Saudi Arabian sides, and that the transfer was of greater interest than a reunion with Ruben Amorim. “There were crazy amounts offered from Saudi Arabia. We’re supposed to act in our best interest,” Chalkias told the Studio Allsvenskan podcast via the Daily Mail.

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“Do we have also have a percentage (of any fee)? Of course. It’s a lot of money. Maybe Viktor should respond to that some day.

“I don’t think we pressured him once to accept the offer. At the end of the day, money comes and goes and this move to Arsenal brings us a lot of marketing.

“They (Sporting) had concluded a deal with Manchester United behind our backs, that was a problem. United offered a higher transfer fee.”

Chalkias also hit back at Sporting chief Frederico Varandas’ criticism of Gyokeres. The executive released a stunning statement saying he would not be blackmailed when Gyokeres went on strike.

There was conflict over what had been agreed upon Gyokeres’ exit and the forward’s representatives believe the club went back on their word following Hugo Viana’s departure for Manchester City.

“If (Hugo) Viana were still at Sporting, the deal would have been done within an hour. Everything was written but we didn’t have time to start a legal battle,” Chalkias explained.

“I don’t understand how a player who scored so many goals and won three trophies didn’t deserve more respect. The industry is about trusting people. The sacrifices we made were probably the turning point in getting the deal done.

“They offered him to Real Madrid, made headlines with Madrid and even United, but from day one there was a commitment to Arsenal.”