Manchester United’s pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres has collapsed, and the striker’s controversial exit clause could now spark a major standoff between Sporting CP and the player’s representatives.
As reported in today morning’s edition of the Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Gyokeres’ agent, Hasan Çetinkaya, holds an exclusive mandate to negotiate the player’s sale and included a clause obligating Sporting to pay him 10% of any bid over €60 million (£50.7m) that is rejected.
Sporting have vowed to resist any activation of this clause by demanding the full €100 million (£84.5m) release fee in return.
That stance effectively raised the price ceiling and positioned the Lisbon club on a collision course with the agent and any suitors unwilling to meet that figure.
United were believed to be one of those clubs. Backed by new part-owners INEOS, the Red Devils were keen to reunite head coach-in-waiting Ruben Amorim with his former star in Portugal. However, this ambition has now been dashed.
The Peoples Person recently covered Portuguese outlet Record’s claim that Gyokeres has “officially” ruled out a move to Old Trafford. His camp reportedly informed Sporting that United are “no longer an option”, despite multiple approaches from the Premier League giants last week.
While United made an offer, Record claim it lacked the persuasive power needed to sway the striker.
Arsenal’s greater ambition, and stronger positioning in the Champions League, appear to have turned the tide. The Gunners have already had a €55 million plus €10 million bid rejected, but are preparing a second offer.
The report further states that Gyokeres’ representatives never considered United a “priority option”, citing the club’s current “transformation process”, lack of Champions League football and uncertain project under new ownership.
There is also speculation that Çetinkaya may be playing a strategic game, feeding information to the media in a bid to undermine Sporting’s negotiating position.
If Arsenal face no competition for Gyokeres’ signature, Sporting president Frederico Varandas may be forced to honour a prior gentleman’s agreement to sell for €60m plus €10m in bonuses.
That strategy carries risks. Arsenal are also in talks to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. Should they close that deal instead, both Sporting and Gyokeres could be left without a suitor, and with the summer window ticking down, time is not on their side.
For United, the collapse of the Gyokeres pursuit underscores the challenges the club faces in its current transitional phase. Without the draw of Champions League football and amid a broader structural overhaul under INEOS, convincing top-tier talent to join the project is proving difficult.
Missing out on the Swedish striker not only leaves a glaring gap in the squad but also highlights the need for clarity, decisiveness and financial muscle in the transfer market if United are to rebuild effectively and return to the elite level.
Featured Image: Gualter slice via Getty Images
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