United Make Late Move for Sporting Star as Arsenal Hesitate on €80m Deal | OneFootball

Viktor Gyokeres Transfer Saga: Arsenal’s Silence Fuels United’s Bold Move

United Turn Up the Heat

Manchester United have pounced while Arsenal paused. In a story broken by ABola, a “last-minute transfer bombshell, complete with a major turnaround,” sees United submit a formal proposal to Sporting CP for striker Viktor Gyokeres. The deal, worth between €70m and €80m, is reportedly “very close to an agreement with the Lions”, overtaking Arsenal in a race many assumed was already won.

Sporting’s Valuation Holds Firm

Rúben Amorim’s Sporting remain firm on their valuation, as “the proposal presented by the club managed by Ruben Amorim will be slightly higher than that of Arsenal and will always be worth between 70 and 80 million euros.” For a club battling on multiple fronts, selling Gyokeres was never a given. Yet the 27-year-old Swede made his preference clear: “he wants to play for Arsenal, compete in the Premier League, and play in the UEFA Champions League.”

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Arsenal’s Stalling Proves Costly

Arsenal’s reluctance to meet the valuation is causing internal and external turmoil. “Arsenal, for their part, haven’t shown any signs of life for six days,” and according to ABola, the delay risks everything. The same report claims “even the player’s family has realized that the forward is now increasingly distancing himself from London.” A deeply personal note emerges, as “a situation that may have even brought Gyokeres’ father to tears.”

Gyokeres’ Loyalty Tested

While “a reunion with Ruben Amorim… seems a likely scenario,” it is clear that the player’s heart remains in England. But time and patience are running short. Arsenal’s gamble to wait may backfire if United’s swift action gets the job done. For a club known for discipline and strategy, the silence is growing deafening.

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It’s hard not to feel an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. Arsenal have been here before, on the verge of something transformative, only to fall short through hesitation or miscalculation. This is a player who has publicly stated, “he wants to play for Arsenal,” and yet we are in danger of seeing him turn out at Old Trafford because the club won’t stretch a few million more.

Fans will rightly ask, where is the urgency? Six days without contact, in peak transfer window, is inexcusable. We are talking about a striker who fits perfectly into Mikel Arteta’s system. His pace, power and pressing style are exactly what’s needed to compete with Manchester City and Liverpool.

The most worrying element? The emotional toll. If “Gyokeres’ father” has been “brought to tears”, it tells you just how personally this saga is affecting the player. And it reinforces the sense that Arsenal are once again letting a priority target slip through their fingers. With United acting decisively, we risk watching another rival get stronger while we stall.

Arsenal fans have backed this process for years. But that support is not unconditional. Deliver Gyokeres or face serious scrutiny.