Manchester United Receives boost in the race for Viktor Gyökeres as the striker Refuses to Play for Sporting CP Again

Viktor Gyökeres’ time at Sporting CP looks to be coming to an end, as the striker has told the club he won’t play for them again — and Manchester United are watching closely.

The Swedish star is wanted by several top European clubs, including United, Arsenal, Juventus, and Saudi side Al-Hilal, following a fantastic season in Portugal. He scored an impressive 66 goals in just 68 games under manager Rúben Amorim and has bagged 97 goals in 102 total appearances for the club.

Manchester United are desperate for a new number nine after a poor 2024/25 campaign. They finished 15th in the Premier League, with their lack of goals up front being one of the biggest problems.

Gyökeres is now one of the names at the top of their list. However, while clubs like United are preparing to make moves, things have turned sour between Gyökeres and Sporting.

According to Portuguese outlet Record, Gyökeres is angry with Sporting for going back on what he believes was a verbal agreement. Last September, Sporting president Frederico Varandas reportedly promised the striker he could leave this summer if a club offered £50 million plus £9 million in add-ons — a total of £59 million.

But now, Sporting are demanding £67 million — something Gyökeres sees as unfair. In response, he has reportedly told the club he will no longer play for them, expressing his frustration privately but firmly.

The club has yet to make an official statement, though president Varandas is expected to speak later today at a museum event in Leiria. If there’s no progress, Record claims Gyökeres is ready to cut short his holiday in Sweden and speak out publicly about the issue — something he’s avoided until now out of respect for the fans.

Despite strong interest, Manchester United have not yet made an official offer. Transfer expert Ben Jacobs revealed that United are planning to act in July, as they first need to focus on selling players to balance the books.

Jacobs explained, “United are likely to focus on outgoings first. They’d prefer to go after a new striker in July, not June. That’s partly for financial reasons, but also because they’re being cautious not to rush into deals too early.”

While other clubs are circling, United are keeping a close eye on the situation. Their hopes of landing Gyökeres could be boosted by his growing unhappiness at Sporting — but they’ll need to move carefully to avoid missing out.