Transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano has revealed that intermediaries acting on behalf of Sporting CP have approached Manchester United with an opportunity to hijack Arsenal’s pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres.
According to sources close to the matter as reported by Softfootball, talks between the the two clubs have reportedly stalled, particularly over the structure of €10 million in proposed add-ons, which remains a sticking point in negotiations.
With discussions between the two clubs showing little progress for over a week, reports from Portugal suggest the deal could be at serious risk of collapsing, opening the door for other suitors, including United, to make a late move for the Swedish striker.
And Romano has now revealed in the early hours of Tuesday morning that Sporting have offered Gyokeres to Manchester United.
“In the last 24 hours, in the recent hours, overnight between Monday and Tuesday, Sporting intermediaries and agents close to Sporting offered again to Manchester United the opportunity to enter in the deal and try to hijack the move,”
Romano said on his YouTube channel. However, Romano insists that Gyokeres’ intention is still only to join Arsenal.
“Gyokeres only wants Arsenal,”
“Arsenal and Sporting are continuing the negotiations on these add-ons. There were new contacts on Monday lunchtime to try and advance on the structure of the deal.
“There has still been no breakthrough, which is why Sporting did this move overnight (offering him to Man Utd).
“But the message from Gyokeres is clear, he wants to go to Arsenal.”
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Gyokeres’ move to Arsenal had seemed imminent just over a week ago when Romano announced the ‘Here We Go’ could arrive any moment.
Romano confirmed David Ornstein’s line that the Gunners had agreed a deal that would see them pay Sporting €65m as a fixed fee, with €10m in add-ons. All that was remaining to complete the agreement was to decide how these add-ons were reached.
This has proved to be a hurdle that so far the clubs have not been able to jump over, with Arsenal’s hopes of taking Viktor Gyokeres with them on their summer tour to Asia in tatters.
A war has been ongoing all summer between the player’s entourage and Sporting over his asking price. Gyokeres’ agents claimed that Sporting broke a promise to sell him for around €60m plus €10m in bonuses, while Sporting denied a promise was ever made. This led to Gyokeres refusing to turn up to pre-season training in a bid to force a move through to Arsenal.
So far this summer, Arsenal have completed deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke in a busy start to their first summer window under new sporting director Andrea Berta.
Gyokeres is not the only outstanding Arsenal deal in the pipeline with an initial £13m deal for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera close to completion.
