Man Utd in pole for Gyokeres as Arsenal interest cools over denial of 'signed letter'

Manchester United and Arsenal are both locked in a transfer battle for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres who is keen to leave but the clubs are not willing to pay his buy-out clause.

Gyokeres, 27, has been one of Europe’s most prolific strikers since joining Sporting from Coventry City, boasting a remarkable 97 goals in 102 appearances across all competitions.

His form has made him a top target for Premier League clubs, with Arsenal and United both keen to bring him to England.

Arsenal have been considered favourites due to their Champions League status and long-standing interest, but their pursuit has hit a snag.

Reports indicate the Gunners are growing frustrated with Sporting’s high demands and have even “frozen” their move for Gyokeres, considering alternatives like Benjamin Sesko and Joao Pedro instead. Arsenal are also reportedly looking to raise funds through player sales to finance a big-money striker deal.

Manchester United, meanwhile, remain firmly in the race. United’s manager Ruben Amorim, who previously coached Gyokeres at Sporting, is pushing for a reunion at Old Trafford.

United see Gyokeres as the ideal solution to their goalscoring woes and have been in contact with his representatives.

However, United face the same challenge as Arsenal: Sporting are demanding a fee close to his €100 million (£85 million) release clause, and the player’s wage expectations are also significant, reportedly around £11 million per year.

And Gyokeres' agent does not have a ‘signed letter’ from Sporting allowing him to leave for a fee less than his release clause, reports in Portugal now claim.

His agent, Hassan Cetinkaya, claimed he reached a gentleman’s agreement with the club last summer which meant they would accept any offer in the region of £60m (€70m consisting of €60m plus €10m in bonuses), even saying that he had a signed letter to prove it.

However, Sporting’s club president Frederico Varandas has accused Gyokeres' team of trying to 'blackmail' the Portuguese giants into allowing their talisman to leave, reported The Mirror.

Adding further intrigue, Juventus have entered the fray and are making a strong push for Gyokeres. The Italian giants see him as a major upgrade for their attack but would likely need to sell Dusan Vlahovic first to fund the move.

Gyokeres himself is reportedly frustrated with Sporting over their transfer stance and is eager for a move this summer, but where he ends up remains uncertain. With Arsenal cooling their interest and Juventus lurking, Manchester United may have a clearer path—provided they can meet Sporting’s terms and the striker’s wage demands.

For now, the race for Viktor Gyokeres is wide open, with United, Arsenal, and Juventus all vying for one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.