Sporting CP agreed a deal with Manchester United for the transfer of Viktor Gyokeres behind the player’s back, but he refused to entertain it.
Fabrizio Romano reports on his YouTube channel that Sporting CP and Manchester United concluded a deal for the transfer of Viktor Gyokeres this summer, negotiating the move behind the player’s back even though the player’s camp had an agreement with Arsenal.
Romano claims Sporting were pushing Gyokeres towards United, with Ruben Amorim’s side offering a lower fixed fee, but with better add-ons.
The problem was the player himself, who was only interested in joining Arsenal. He didn’t want to join Manchester United, despite Sporting spending days trying to push that move through.
In the end, Gyokeres got his way, finally joining Arsenal on July 26th. It wasn’t ideal that he’d already missed part of pre-season by that point, but he’s just had to learn on the job.
With Kai Havertz joining Gabriel Jesus on the injury table, the Gunners have relied on Gyokeres a lot already. Though the striker will be keen to add to his three goals so far, his overall performances have been increasingly effective in recent weeks.
Manchester United ended up turning to the more expensive Benjamin Sesko (€63.5m+10m vs €76.5m+8.5m), who has scored twice for the club so far.
Most importantly, Arsenal’s summer signings have the Gunners top of the Premier League, with a 100% record in the Champions League and League Cup so far. United sit 10th, eliminated from the League Cup, and with no European football to speak of.