Manchester United are set to launch a bold move to hijack Arsenal’s pursuit of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres, with reports suggesting a £67 million transfer could soon be finalised following the Europa League final.
The Swedish international, who has taken Portuguese football by storm this season, has been on Arsenal’s radar for months. However, United are now said to be accelerating their efforts to bring Gyökeres to Old Trafford, where he would reunite with former manager Rúben Amorim — now at the helm following Erik ten Hag’s departure.
Gyökeres has enjoyed a sensational campaign for Sporting, scoring 52 goals in all competitions and racking up 13 assists, firmly establishing himself as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards. His explosive form has sparked interest from across the continent, but it is the Premier League where he seems most likely to land.
Arsenal, who have made no secret of their search for a reliable No.9 to lead the line next season, were thought to be leading the race. Mikel Arteta sees Gyökeres as the ideal blend of power, pace, and pressing — a perfect fit for his high-octane system at the Emirates. However, Manchester United’s intervention could turn the transfer narrative on its head.
According to reports from Portugal and England, United are ready to meet the €78m (£67m) release clause in Gyökeres’ Sporting contract. With Rúben Amorim playing a central role in the 26-year-old’s development in Lisbon, there is hope at Carrington that the existing relationship could tip the scales in United’s favour.
Timing may prove crucial. With Sporting’s season concluding in the Europa League final on Wednesday, United are poised to act swiftly once the curtain falls on Gyökeres’ campaign. It is believed that informal discussions have already taken place, with both Amorim and key figures at United pushing to convince the striker that Old Trafford is the right next step.
For Arsenal, the news will come as a major blow. The Gunners have been working on a deal for several weeks and were confident of sealing Gyökeres’ signature early in the window to avoid a prolonged saga. But with United now prepared to pay the full clause and offer Gyökeres a prominent role in their rebuild, the landscape has changed rapidly.
The move signals a new era at Manchester United, with Amorim being backed to bring in players suited to his tactical vision. Bringing Gyökeres in would not only strengthen United’s goal threat — a glaring weakness all season — but also strike a psychological blow to a major domestic rival.
With both clubs expected to operate aggressively in the market this summer, the Gyökeres saga may be the first major battleground of what promises to be a fierce window.
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