Viktor Gyokeres 'has Arsenal change of heart' after Manchester United contact
Viktor Gyokeres has had a change of heart over joining Arsenal this summer, with Manchester United now in pole position to sign the Sporting striker.
The striker is expected to leave Portugal this summer and is at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between the two Premier League giants.It was reported earlier in June that Gyokeres had "officially" rejected United and a reunion with former Sporting head coach Ruben Amorim following Arsenal making their interest clear.
Portuguese outlet Record claimed that United have been made aware of Gyokeres' decision to snub a move to Old Trafford after talks with the player's agents.
Gyokeres was then said to have told friends and family that he will sign for Arsenal this summer, despite the Gunners being in talks with both Sporting and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko over summer deals, before making a decision on one.
Standard Sport understands that Sporting are demanding at least €70million (£59.6m) to begin negotiations over a fee, and recent reports suggested that Arsenal were clear favourites to sign Gyokeres despite seeing an opening bid worth €55m (£47m) reportedly rejected.
But The Mirror now claim that United are back in the frame, and seen by some as the most likely destination for Gyokeres despite being unable to offer Champions League football.
Arsenal are currently wrapping up deals for Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga, for a combined £15million, and are expected to step up moves for a striker next week after the PSR deadline passes on June 30.
The Gunners are said by some to favour Sesko, who could also prove a cheaper option with Sporting digging in their heels over an asking price for Gyokeres.
That has reportedly led Gyokeres to reassess other options, of which United is the most prominent.
The Mirror report that intermediaries have made contact on the player's behalf to inform United of his change of heart and that is ready to move to Old Trafford.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
£45m deal solves Liverpool's BIGGEST problem
Liverpool have a gigantic problem in their squad. One £45m deal fixes it, however. Liverpool's summer so far has been all about moving the squad forwards under Arne Slot. They've spent a year seeing how fits in with the ideas and style, now they want to fine-tune things around the head coach. Advertisement But they've also moved to solve upcoming problems. Trent Alexander-Arnold left, so a new right-back had to come in. Jeremie Frimpong is exactly that - problem solved. Andy Robertson is entering the final year of his contract and may move on. Milos Kerkez comes in as his successor and one of the best young players in the Premier League. Mo Salah is now 33 years old and we're almost certainly in the final two years of his time at Liverpool. The club needs someone new to build their attack around and Florian Wirtz is absolutely perfect for it. Another problem is brewing, however. Liverpool aren't sure what the future looks like at centre-back, with Jarell Quansah moving on and Ibrahima Konate facing a very uncertain future. Advertisement The Frenchman is in the final year of his contract and it appears unlikely he'll sign a new one, given his demands. The Reds are set to lose a key defender and the player they hoped would lead the defence after Virgil van Dijk. So what should they do? Marc Guehi is the answer Liverpool reportedly want to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. Like Konate, he's in the final year of his contract there and won't be renewing. It means Palace either sell this summer or lose him for free. That's a complicated one, though, as Chelsea retain a 20 per cent sell-on clause on any sale. Palace, then, won't get the full fee and may see more value in another year of Guehi than any amount they can receive right now. Advertisement The BBC reports that £45m is the going price for Guehi. Now, Liverpool may decide to wait a year and sign him for free and no one could begrudge them that. But simply paying the money to guarantee Guehi would fix their biggest problem right now. They'd get a homegrown talent to replace Quansah - something that's a secondary problem for the squad - and they'd also get that leader to replace Konate. Guehi is a fantastic and accomplished Premier League defender, one who just helped lead Palace to glory for the first time in their history as they won the FA Cup. He's exactly what the Reds are looking for and £45m is a wonderful price for that. Unless, of course, Liverpool feel they can wait. If they're certain Guehi will join in 2026 and can't sell Konate this summer, then waiting it out makes the most sense.


New York Times
39 minutes ago
- New York Times
Guardiola ‘understands' Klopp's Club World Cup criticisms, trying not to worry about possible ‘disaster' season
Pep Guardiola says he understands Jurgen Klopp's criticisms of the Club World Cup but is trying not to think of how the shorter break could potentially 'destroy' his team next season. Former Liverpool manager Klopp, who is now Red Bull's head of global soccer, was speaking about player care and development this week when he called it a 'pointless' tournament and the 'worst idea ever implemented in football'. Advertisement Klopp's comments came despite Red Bull Salzburg being part of the competition before their elimination in the group stage. 'Listen, I fought a lot with Jurgen many, many times. I know where his idea comes from,' said Guardiola. 'We fought a lot in England, and also when we went to the UEFA meetings, and especially when we discussed the Premier League calendar, and how to add more quality to it. (We discussed) giving the managers and players more rest, because that's how you add more quality. 'So his comments (on the Club World Cup) didn't surprise me a lot. I understand him. I respect him. I've had an incredible relationship with Jurgen for many years as rivals. Now he's stepped back from that position [as a manager] and I understand his argument, because I would defend his argument as well. 'At the same time, as managers we are in a job. We follow the FIFA, UEFA, Premier League or Serie A rules. As managers, we don't organise the competitions. Once we are here, we are proud.' Guardiola was Klopp's rival was eight years in England but believes some critics of the tournament would think differently if they were competing in the United States. 'Many, many teams complain about these competitions because they are not here, otherwise they might love being here,' he said. 'They would have their media and supporters here, and there would be income to be here, and they would be happy to be here. 'Of course, it's not an ideal situation for the manager. Would I love to have two months to prepare for next season? Yes. Would I love to be refreshed for next season? Yes. 'But it is what it is. And we deserve what we have done in the past to be here. Once we are here, let's do our best possible.' England manager Thomas Tuchel stated that he believes Liverpool and Arsenal will have a 'huge advantage' over Man City and Chelsea because they do not have these additional games to handle. Advertisement Despite his enthusiasm for the newly-expanded competition, Guardiola is aware that the work load could have a delayed impact on his players. 'I try not to think about it otherwise I would get too anxious,' he said. 'Instead, I try to relax, enjoy the days here and the good vibes that we have, the competition and we try to win it. 'After this, let's see what happens. Let's see what happens after the final, we can rest and take the time that the Premier League has allowed us to rest and then we will see. 'Maybe in November, December or January it will be a disaster, we are exhausted and the World Cup has destroyed us. I don't know but it's the first time in our lives that this has happened. 'Mentally I think in the past the players have played in World Cups or European Championships for their national teams so it happens sometimes. You need a rest mentally sometimes, you can recover and then we will see when we come back.' Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)


Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
Bloomberg Daybreak Asia: US Futures Higher on Trade Talk Hopes
US equity-index futures edged higher as trade talks gathered pace ahead of a July 9 deadline and Senate negotiations continued over President Donald Trump's $4.5 trillion tax cut package. Contracts for the S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.3%. Major currencies were slightly higher against the dollar in early Asian trading, while stock futures showed gains in Japan, a decline in Hong Kong and little change in Australia. Crude oil fell 1% as traders wound back risk premium before OPEC+ meeting. We get some market perspective from Shams Afzal, Managing Director at the Carnegie Investment Counsel. Plus - monetary policymakers from five major economies will gather Tuesday at the European Central Bank's annual retreat in Sintra, Portugal. The summit comes as Trump-era trade turbulence and geopolitical instability weigh on global markets. Fed Chair Jerome Powell and ECB head Christine Lagarde are set to share a public stage for the first time in a year. For more on how tariffs are impacting economic outlooks, we heard from Louise Loo, Lead Economist at Oxford Economics. She speaks with the hosts of Bloomberg Television's The Asia Trade, Shery Ahn and Haidi Stroud-Watts.