Fabrizio Romano confirms Gyokeres to Man Utd HIJACK offer

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 22 Jul 2025 07:13 BST
5 min read

Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting CP, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Sporting Lisbon have offered Man Utd the chance to hijack Arsenal's move for Viktor Gyokeres.

Article continues under the video

Arsenal and Sporting are making little progress currently in discussions over how the €10 million add-ons in Gyokeres' transfer deal will be paid.

Current ETV

Viktor Gyökeres

F (C)

Sporting CP

Viktor Gyökeres

F (C)

Sporting CP

ETV Range

€69.3M - €84.8M

With negotiations between Arsenal and Sporting having been at a standstill for over a week now, there have even been sensational reports in Portugal that the move is on the verge of collapse.

And Romano has now revealed in the early hours of Tuesday morning that Sporting have offered Gyokeres to Man Utd.

What did Romano say?

“In the last 24 hours, in the recent hours, overnight between Monday and Tuesday, Sporting intermediaries and agents close to Sporting offered again to Manchester United the opportunity to enter in the deal and try to hijack the move," Romano told his YouTube channel.

However, Romano insists that Gyokeres' intention is still only to join Arsenal.

"Gyokeres only wants Arsenal," he explained.

"Arsenal and Sporting are continuing the negotiations on these add-ons. There were new contacts on Monday lunchtime to try and advance on the structure of the deal.

"There has still been no breakthrough, which is why Sporting did this move overnight (offering him to Man Utd).

"But the message from Gyokeres is clear, he wants to go to Arsenal."

Gyokeres' move to Arsenal had seemed imminent just over a week ago when Romano announced the 'Here We Go' could arrive any moment.

Romano confirmed David Ornstein's line that the Gunners had agreed a deal that would see them pay Sporting €65m as a fixed fee, with €10m in add-ons.

All that was remaining to complete the agreement was to decide how these add-ons were reached.

This has proved to be a hurdle that so far the clubs have not been able to jump over, with Arsenal's hopes of taking Gyokeres with them on their summer tour to Asia in tatters.

A war has been ongoing all summer between the player’s entourage and Sporting over his asking price.

Gyokeres’ agents claimed that Sporting broke a promise to sell him for around €60m plus €10m in bonuses, while Sporting denied a promise was ever made.

This led to Gyokeres refusing to turn up to pre-season training in a bid to force a move through to Arsenal.

© IMAGO - Viktor Gyokeres to join Arsenal this summer

Arsenal and Gyokeres have already agreed on a contract until 2030, with salary and terms all settled upon.

Gyokeres is the hottest striking property around right now after having an incredible season, scoring 54 goals in 52 games in all competitions, and leading Sporting to another league title.

This follows on from his brilliant form from last season for Sporting where he scored 43 goals in all competitions for his club.

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