Arsenal Player Speaks Out as Viktor Gyökeres Rejects Manchester United Amid Ongoing Transfer Drama
The Viktor Gyökeres transfer saga has taken a significant twist — and an Arsenal star has now spoken out amid swirling reports that Manchester United are trying to hijack the deal.
The Swedish striker, who remains Arsenal’s top attacking target for the summer window, was reportedly close to completing a move to the Emirates.
Talks between Arsenal and Sporting CP had advanced positively, with personal terms swiftly agreed and a base transfer fee of around £54.8 million (€65 million) settled.
However, the deal has hit a temporary roadblock. The sticking point is not the fee itself, but the structure of £8.6 million (€10 million) in performance-related bonuses.
Sporting CP’s president, Frederico Varandas, is demanding nearly guaranteed add-ons — the kind that would be triggered under standard appearances or team qualifications.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are looking to tie these bonuses to more ambitious achievements, believing the Portuguese side’s demands are too easily met.
Amid this uncertainty, rumours began to swirl suggesting Manchester United were preparing to swoop in and hijack the deal, potentially using manager Rúben Amorim’s relationship with Gyökeres to influence a move.
That speculation caused quite a stir among fans — until new reports from Portuguese outlet A Bola clarified that Gyökeres has firmly rejected United’s approach and remains committed to joining Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal project.
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães also weighed in, offering praise for the Swedish forward.
Reflecting on the club’s encounter with Sporting CP in the Champions League, Gabriel acknowledged Gyökeres as a real threat:
“It was definitely a tough challenge when we played him. What’s clear now is that he’s a top-quality player who had an outstanding season”.
That encounter ended in a dominant 5-1 win for Arsenal, but Gyökeres’ individual talent was not lost on the Gunners’ players.
Meanwhile, BBC journalist Simon Stone has poured cold water on the hijack rumours, stating that there is a strong feeling within United circles that the club is not genuinely pursuing the striker and may simply be used as leverage in Arsenal’s tense negotiations with Sporting.
Details of Sporting’s bonus demands have emerged, revealing requests like €2.5M after 20 appearances, another €2.5M for 20 additional games, and similar amounts tied to team achievements like Champions League qualification.
Arsenal, however, prefer more performance-based triggers that align with club ambitions.
Despite the current deadlock, Gyökeres remains focused on a North London switch — making it clear his preference lies with Arsenal over United.
