Juventus Aiming to Beat Arsenal and Man United in the Race to Sign Striker | OneFootball

Gyokeres Chase Heats Up as Juventus Pounce Amid Premier League Uncertainty

Juventus Enter Race with Ambition and Cash

The pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres is shifting shape, and fast. Juventus are the latest European heavyweight to enter the fray, and according to Mirror Football, they’re wasting no time. With Arsenal’s interest cooling and Manchester United’s attention seemingly shifting elsewhere, the Italian giants “want to muscle in on Gyokeres and have already indicated to the striker’s representatives that they are willing to meet his £11million-a-year wage demands.”

That figure, eye-watering by any standards, signals Juve’s intent. There’s a ruthlessness about their approach, identifying the delay from Premier League suitors and moving swiftly. The Sporting Lisbon striker has long been admired for his blend of physicality, composure and consistent output, and his 27-goal haul last season only intensifies the appeal.

Gyokeres’ contract situation at Sporting has proved a significant obstacle. While rumours of a gentleman’s agreement floated earlier in the year, allowing him to leave for around £60 million, that now appears off the table. Sporting president Frederico Varandas has taken a hardline stance, publicly slamming the player’s agent for “playing games” as tensions escalate in Lisbon.

Photo: IMAGO

Arsenal Stalled by Sporting Standoff

Gyokeres had reportedly earmarked Arsenal as his preferred destination, per Mirror Football: “Gyokeres’ preference would be a move to Arsenal,” a sentiment that aligned well with Mikel Arteta’s tactical requirements. However, despite initial enthusiasm, it seems the Gunners are now exploring alternative targets, most notably RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško.

The North London club’s hesitancy is partly financial, with Sporting digging in over the release clause, and partly strategic. They’ve invested in youth and versatility under Arteta, and Šeško, younger and reportedly more attainable, may now better fit that evolving model. Still, missing out on Gyokeres would sting. His readiness to lead the line immediately was arguably unmatched on the current market.

United Turn to Ekitike as Gyokeres Looks Elsewhere

Manchester United, once heavily linked with the Swedish international, appear to be reading the room. With Gyokeres leaning towards Arsenal and Sporting holding firm on price, the Red Devils are reportedly pivoting to another emerging talent. “Manchester United… are poised to ramp up their interest in Hugo Ekitike,” Mirror Football reports, with contact already made with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Ekitike, a France U21 international, presents a different profile: more raw, less proven, but perhaps more malleable. United’s scouting and recruitment teams are betting on potential, and financial sense. Whether that gamble pays off remains to be seen.

Photo IMAGO

Juventus Exploiting Premier League Indecision

As Arsenal and United hesitate, Juventus have sensed opportunity. Their swift movement suggests confidence, not only in landing the player, but in selling him a vision compelling enough to rival a Premier League switch. Serie A might not be the commercial powerhouse it once was, but Turin offers regular Champions League football, prestige, and now, evidently, top-tier wages.

While Gyokeres’ exit from Sporting seems inevitable, where he lands is anything but certain. Arsenal’s pause, United’s pivot and Juventus’ ambition have created a fascinating triangle. There is still time for the Premier League’s giants to reignite their interest—but they may need to move quickly if they don’t want to watch this particular target head to Italy.

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For Manchester United, missing out on Gyokeres isn’t a disaster. There’s a growing belief among the Old Trafford faithful that the rebuild under INEOS and Jason Wilcox needs to prioritise long-term development over headline grabs. Ekitike, though still unpolished, ticks those boxes and doesn’t come with the £100m baggage or the agent drama that now trails Gyokeres.

On the Arsenal side, it’s more complicated. Gyokeres was the perfect stopgap between a maturing squad and a ready-made solution up front. For fans frustrated by the lack of a clinical striker in the big games, this feels like another opportunity missed, much like Dusan Vlahovic or Mykhailo Mudryk in previous windows. Šeško may yet prove an inspired alternative, but his inexperience could tell in a tight title race.

There’s also the emotional layer. Gyokeres wanted Arsenal. When a player expresses such a clear desire, supporters want the club to act decisively. Watching him walk into Juventus on a lucrative deal while Arsenal fumble the financials and Sporting politics might just be another reminder of how hard it is to complete elite-level deals without absolute conviction.