The drama surrounding Viktor Gyökeres has grown in recent days as the player’s agent and Sporting CP throw themselves into a transfer war.
This week it’s been reported both Manchester United and Arsenal have met with the player’s camp, with it always being reported that the Gunners are ahead in the chase.
Arsenal were then said to have made an offer for Viktor Gyökeres during a meeting between officials from the London club, including Andrea Berta, and Sporting. That meeting was held on the Spanish island of Menorca.
That offer, which stood at €55m plus a further €10m in potential bonuses, was rejected by the Portuguese club. Arsenal were then expected to return with a total package worth more than €70m.
Friday evening saw claims that the player’s agent would be due a big payment if Sporting receive an offer worth more than €60m, obviously as a fixed payment. Whether that’s true or not remains to be seen, but it adds to the drama.
Saturday’s edition of Record has an article which somewhat kills Manchester United’s chances of beating Arsenal. It had already been reported the Red Devils were having difficulties agreeing anything with the player’s agents.
Now, Record state: ‘The footballer’s agents have officially told Ruben Amorim’s club that they are no longer an option for the striker.’
Manchester United are said to have been in contact repeatedly this week, but ‘this possibility lost strength and, in the last few hours, it has fallen away completely’.
Record state Manchester United made an offer to the player but it didn’t convince him. It sounds like a financial issue, plus worry from the 27-year-old about a lack of European football and ‘a greater sporting risk’ at the club.
Therefore, Viktor Gyökeres ‘is now definitively closing the door on Old Trafford’, and Arsenal is his ‘dream’ destination.
Hopefully for the player, such a stance doesn’t come back to bite him.
