Viktor Gyokeres makes Man Utd decision after Arsenal prompt transfer U-turn

Manchester United and Arsenal are both on the hunt for a new No.9 this summer and Viktor Gyokeres is desperate to leave Sporting Lisbon for a big-money move

Viktor Gyokeres has put Manchester United into pole position for his signature. The Swedish hitman has U-turned on making Arsenal his priority – re-opening the door on a reunion with Ruben Amorim.

Gyokeres, 27, is at the heart of the summer’s messiest transfer saga. He is desperate to leave Sporting Lisbon, having scored 54 goals in 52 games last season.

Gyokeres wants to test himself in one of Europe’s biggest leagues, but hasn’t found clubs rushing to knock down his door. Sporting insist they’ve not had any offer put their way, while club president Frederico Varandas has accused the player’s agent of falsely claiming the club would accept £59million to sell the player as part of a ‘gentleman’s agreement’.

The Gyokeres camp believe Sporting are asking too much money – with claims they’re asking for fees totalling £86m – for a player who has scored 97 goals in 102 games since moving to Portugal from Coventry City two years ago.

As such, there’s been a major falling out among the two parties and claims that Gyokeres won’t return for pre-season. But Gyokeres isn’t getting the interest he perhaps felt he would this summer.

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He turned down the prospect of a move to Saudi Arabia last month. Al-Hilal made a £55m offer that was rejected by Sporting, but Gyokeres made clear he had no intention of moving to the Middle East, wanting to continue to compete in Europe.

Real Madrid have made clear they don’t want to spend big money to take him to the Bernabeu, as they seek a back up No.9 in the mould of former striker Joselu. Liverpool have been linked in recent days, but the Premier League champions have no interest in the Swede.

Juventus have been linked, but the Italian side aren’t flush with cash and no bid has been forthcoming, while Bayern Munich have Harry Kane and Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique isn’t keen. Nor is his former club, Barcelona.

That has left Arsenal and Manchester United front and centre, and the belief had been that Gyokeres’ No.1 choice was a move to North London. The Gunners can offer Champions League football and a likely title challenge next season.

But while new sporting director Andrea Berta has been testing the waters with the Gyokeres camp and Sporting, Arsenal’s preferred No.9 option is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. A £60m deal is, at this stage, most likely for Arsenal and the RBL forward.

As such, Gyokeres is increasingly aware that his best bet this summer may be to reunite with former boss Amorim and intermediaries have made contact on the player’s behalf to signal he is ready to join the Premier League under-performers.

However, he may have to play a waiting game with United too. Matheus Cunha is already through the door at Old Trafford and Bryan Mbeumo is expected next, but United must offload before they can spend big again.

United are open to selling pretty much any member of their first team squad if the right money is offered, but they’re particularly keen to quickly get rid of Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho – none of whom are part of Amorim’s plans. They’re hopeful that Real Betis will present an acceptable offer for Antony sooner rather than later too.

Then, United will be back pushing to land the No.9 that has been earmarked after last season’s dire campaign. And Gyokeres is finally ready for that to be him.

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