Manchester United have been named by the Portuguese media as one of five clubs in the running for the summer signature of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP.
The Red Devils are prioritising the signing of a striker in this transfer window and head coach Ruben Amorim’s former player in Lisbon has been one of the top names on their list.
However, Sporting’s president Frederico Varandas reneged on a gentleman’s agreement made with the player that he could leave for €60 million plus €10 million in variables (£51m + £8.5m), leaving a €100 million release clause as the target, and Gyokeres’ agent “officially” told United that he would not join them and had chosen Arsenal.
Nonetheless, United remain in the race, according to A Bola (this morning’s paper edition, page 16), along with two new hopefuls.
The outlet reports that in addition to the Gunners, the Red Devils and Juventus, Saudi outfit Al-Ahli and La Liga club Athletico Madrid are also keen on landing the deadly Swede.
What’s more, Varandas has now named his price for the striker and is adamant he will not negotiate.
“Sporting are demanding €80 million for the Swede, not a penny less,” A Bola claims. Arsenal’s opening bid fell way short of this at around €55 million plus bonuses.
Juventus seem the most predisposed to reach the magic figure, although their bid – which would be €70 million plus €10m in add-ons, would only be lodged if they first move on Dusan Vlahovic, a player also liked with United.
Along with Atleti and Al Ahli, United are “very attentive to developments and in a second tier of interested parties.”
For Arsenal, the question is whether they will pay the (most likely) €70m + €10m or instead revert to their plan A of RV Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
If they buy Sesko, it then falls on Juventus. Assuming they do sell Vlahovic, it is still not clear that they would go for the 27 year old as they still have Victor Osimhen and Jonathan David on their shortlist.
It is entirely possible that both fall away, leaving United back in with a chance. However, we do not know whether they would be prepared to meet the new valuation, whether Gyokeres would un-reject them, whether they would still want him after having been rejected, nor whether Atletico or Al-Ahli would get the nod.
For these reasons, United’s chances of landing the former Coventry City man remain extremely slim. They are indeed still in there, but are hanging on by a thread.
Featured image Michael Campanella via Getty Images
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Red Billy Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
