Manchester United are reportedly battling Arsenal for the signature of Sporting Lisbon‘s Viktor Gyokeres, with the Red Devils refusing to give up on a deal for the Sweden international.
Arsenal are said to be well-placed when it comes to a deal for the Sweden international, and reports from Portugal earlier this week suggested that the Gunners were nearing a £59m deal for the former Coventry City forward.
However, according to L’Equipe, Man United are still firmly in the hunt for the 26-year-old, who has had a spectacular 2024-25 campaign for Sporting, scoring 53 goals and registering 13 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions.
The report claims that the Red Devils want to follow the acquisition of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers with a deal for Gyokeres, as head coach Ruben Amorim prepares to bolster his attack during the summer transfer window.
Paris Saint-Germain have previously been linked with Gyokeres, but it is understood that the Swede is now destined to make the move to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Man United fighting for his services.
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Man United ‘battling Arsenal’ for Gyokeres deal
Gyokeres scored 39 times and registered eight assists in 33 league appearances for Sporting during the 2024-25 campaign to fire them to the title, while he also managed six goals in eight Champions League appearances.
“It’s football, I’m still here. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Nobody can predict the future,” the striker told Sport TV when questioned on his future after helping Sporting secure the Primeira Liga title.
Gyokeres’ release clause in his contract is £84m, but it is understood that he will be able to leave for around £55m to £60m this summer.
The Swede made the switch to Sporting from Coventry in the summer of 2023, and he has scored 96 goals and registered 28 assists in 101 appearances for his Lisbon club.
Gyokeres also has vast experience of English football, scoring 43 goals and registering 17 assists in 116 matches for Coventry, while he has also previously played for Brighton & Hove Albion and Swansea City.
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Man United need to win Europa League final to land Gyokeres
Man United will need to overcome Tottenham Hotspur in Wednesday night’s Europa League final in order to stand a realistic chance of signing Gyokeres during this summer’s transfer window.
Indeed, the victor in Bilbao will secure Champions League qualification for the 2025-26 campaign, which would provide a huge financial boost and place the Red Devils in a stronger position heading into the market.
Gyokeres is highly unlikely to be willing to join a club not offering top-level European action next term, so Arsenal may actually be best off supporting their bitter North London rivals Tottenham in the final of the showpiece event.
