The battle between Manchester United and Arsenal to strengthen their attacking options is heating up, but recent developments have tipped the scales in United’s favor.
Both clubs are in dire need of a reliable striker, but while Arsenal were initially leading the race for Viktor Gyökeres, they now appear to have shifted focus elsewhere — a move that could benefit Manchester United tremendously.
Arsenal have reportedly moved away from the pursuit of Gyökeres after facing difficulties in negotiating with Sporting CP’s president, Frederico Varandas.
Despite having a verbal agreement with the striker earlier on, talks broke down due to the Portuguese club’s tough negotiating stance.
Now, according to Diario Sport, Arsenal are set to sign Benjamin Šeško from RB Leipzig for a fee of €75 million (£64.4 million) plus add-ons.
This development has effectively cleared the path for Manchester United to go all in for Gyökeres.
For context, Šeško, while a promising talent, had a modest output last season — scoring 13 goals in 33 Bundesliga matches.
That’s respectable for a young forward, but it pales in comparison to Gyökeres’ phenomenal numbers.
The Swedish striker scored 39 goals in 33 league appearances last season and played a crucial role in helping Sporting win the Primeira Liga title.
His consistency and lethal finishing make him one of Europe’s most in-form centre-forwards.
Reports from Portuguese outlet O Jogo suggest that Sporting are demanding around €80 million (£68.3 million) for Gyökeres.
While that’s a hefty fee, it now seems more realistic for Manchester United to meet it, especially with Arsenal bowing out of the race.
What strengthens United’s position even more is the existing relationship between Gyökeres and newly appointed United manager Rúben Amorim, who originally brought the striker to Sporting from Coventry City and helped turn him into a goal machine.
United’s striking department clearly needs reinforcement.
The duo of Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee only managed seven Premier League goals combined last season — far below expectations for a club of United’s stature.
To mount a serious top-four challenge and close the gap with rivals like Manchester City, an elite-level forward is non-negotiable.
Gyökeres fits that profile perfectly: strong, versatile, composed in front of goal, and already familiar with Amorim’s tactical system.
The clock is ticking for United. With Arsenal no longer in the race, this may be the best opportunity for them to secure a top-tier striker without facing intense competition.
However, they must act quickly, as other big clubs like Chelsea or PSG could soon enter the picture.
