Viktor Gyokeres has made it clear he’s done with Sporting. Fed up with the behind-the-scenes chaos, the Swedish forward is ready to push for a move away from the Portuguese club during this summer’s transfer window. What makes it even more intense is that he feels betrayed, not just by a verbal agreement that fell apart, but by being pulled into a power play he never agreed to. Arsenal and Manchester United are watching closely, but the situation is far more volatile than it seems.
According to the Portuguese outlet Record, everything started to unravel when Sporting president Frederico Varandas walked away from a previously settled deal between Gyokeres’ representatives and former sporting director Hugo Viana, who’s now at Manchester City. The agreement was straightforward — a €60 million base fee plus €10 million in bonuses would’ve been enough to release the forward.
On Gyokeres’ side, there’s frustration, and more than that, a sense of betrayal. He and his agents believe the deal was legitimate, and now Sporting is trying to rewrite the rules halfway through the game. What’s left is a standoff. Even with extended time off, he doesn’t plan to report for preseason training. If the situation drags on, he’s ready to go public with his side of the story.
Arsenal and Manchester United remain the two clubs most seriously interested in signing the striker. But one key detail could settle it all, Gyokeres clearly favors Arsenal, and his reasons are hard to argue with.
Arsenal pulling ahead of United
Behind the curtain, two Premier League giants are maneuvering. Arsenal is Gyokeres’ top choice. Yes, the Champions League spot matters, but so does Mikel Arteta’s playing style, which the forward sees as a natural fit. And then there’s the atmosphere, Arsenal offers far more stability than what he’d face in Manchester.
Gyokeres knows that with the Gunners, he can be a lead figure without having to carry the whole team on his back, or deal with the off-field turbulence that’s become normal at United. Arsenal’s attack needs a proper number nine, someone with his physical strength, explosiveness, and finishing touch. With Saka and Martinelli providing width, the system seems tailor-made. Arteta even had to use midfielder Merino as a striker at one point, highlighting just how much they need a true forward.
Manchester United, in contrast, is stuck in what feels like a never-ending rebuild. Coaches come and go, things behind the scenes stay messy, and the pressure is constant. Yes, structural changes are on the way, but most of it is still just talk. The race for a Champions League spot doesn’t look anything like it did in the glory years. The fans are growing restless, and whoever takes the job ends up walking a tightrope from day one.
How Arsenal and United benefit from the tension
In a strange way, both clubs stand to gain from this mess. With every day that passes, the pressure builds on Sporting, which knows it can’t kick off the new season with its star player openly refusing to return.
Arsenal, with its clear structure and Champions League ambitions, offers the perfect landing spot. After coming close to the Premier League title in recent years, the club sees Gyokeres as a crucial piece in an attack that needs more firepower. United, still caught in an uncertain and tense rebuild, could become a serious option too, especially if Arsenal takes too long to pull the trigger.
Both clubs know this situation is a ticking clock. And whoever gets the timing right could land a top-level forward without paying full price.