Arsenal legend Anders Limpar urges Viktor Gyökeres to reject struggling Manchester United and join the Gunners, as transfer talks with his agent heat up.
As speculation mounts around Viktor Gyökeres’ next move, one of Arsenal’s most beloved former players has made his preference crystal clear.
Anders Limpar, who represented the club between 1990 and 1994 and earned 58 caps for Sweden, has urged his compatriot to join the Gunners rather than risk stagnation at Manchester United.
As reported by A Bola, Limpar did not mince words. “Arsenal were struggling for a long time in the Premier League and the Champions League before turning things around.
“Manchester United are now in one of the worst periods in their history. It would be a bad move for Gyökeres, they are struggling in all areas and, when it comes to winning games and trying to win titles, he should play for a team like Arsenal.”
Limpar was part of George Graham’s Arsenal side that won the First Division title in 1991 and remains a cult figure among supporters for his flair and direct style.
According to reports from Portugal, Arsenal are moving early, having formally requested a meeting with Gyökeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, ahead of the summer transfer window.
Cetinkaya is reportedly a friend of Mikel Arteta, which the club believe could give them an edge over United, who are also circling the Sporting striker.
Gyökeres, 26, is enjoying another prolific season in Portugal, scoring 40 goals and providing 10 assists across all competitions (41 games), including six goals in eight Champions League appearances. However, 16 of those goals have come from the penalty spot, including two in a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City.
Notably, he failed to score against Arsenal in the same competition.
Earlier reports suggested Sporting would hold out for the forward’s full €100m (£84m) release clause in January, with The Telegraph suggesting a more realistic price of £63m in the summer.
Arsenal declined to move mid-season, but now appear ready to act, if reports are to be believed.
Whether Gyökeres’ goalscoring form will translate outside of Liga Portugal remains the key question. Before joining Sporting in 2023, his only 20-goal campaign came with Coventry City in the Championship.
But consecutive 40-goal seasons demand attention, and Limpar’s advice may yet resonate with a striker whose next move will define the prime of his career.