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Arsenal back off Viktor Gyokeres, but new £60m offer from Italian giants adds pressure to Man United

Originally posted on HITC | By Sean Fisher | Last updated Jun 15, 2025 10:26 AM ET

Manchester United are facing increasing pressure in the pursuit of Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, with another major European club now entering the race.

When Ruben Amorim took over as head coach at Manchester United, there was hope he could bring Viktor Gyokeres with him to Old Trafford. That plan hasn’t come together yet, and United now find themselves in a tougher battle than expected.

Amorim chose not to sign any Sporting players in January, honoring a gentleman’s agreement that allowed Gyokeres to remain in Portugal with the promise of a summer move.

Now, United are reported to be in contact with Gyokeres daily, but their limited transfer budget and absence from European competitions are making the deal difficult to close.

Arsenal have cooled their interest in Gyokeres, but Juventus prepare a bid

Reports earlier this week suggested that Gyokeres was leaning toward a move to Arsenal instead of Manchester United, aiming for a Premier League switch.

Arsenal appear to be prioritizing Benjamin Sesko over Gyokeres, which could have opened the door for United. However, Juventus have now entered the picture.

Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Juventus are ready to offer €70 million for Gyokeres and are also willing to meet his salary expectations.

United have hit some obstacles over Gyokeres’ personal terms, but Juventus seem prepared to meet the striker’s demands. The report claims that the Italian club are ready to pay him a salary of €13 million per year (around £210,000 per week).

With Gyokeres pushing for a move this summer, Sporting may view a transfer to Juventus as a solution to avoid unnecessary disruptions in their preseason plans.

Gyokeres still prefers a Premier League switch

Juventus might be the front-runner financially, but Gyokeres’ desire to move to the Premier League could still play in United’s favor.

TalkSPORT reports that Gyokeres is “determined” to secure a Premier League move this summer, which may shift his focus away from Juventus despite the lucrative offer.

If Arsenal move on to other targets like Sesko, United could find themselves back in contention – provided they can put together an offer that matches both Sporting’s demands and the player’s wages.

But Amorim has already warned Gyokeres that he only wants to sign players who want to be at Old Trafford. If that isn’t the case and Gyokeres preferred to join Arsenal, Ineos could still look elsewhere.

United have seven Gyokeres alternatives who could be signed to bolster Amorim’s attack next season.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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