Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has sent a message to Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres after Arsenal were handed a surprise transfer boost.
The Sweden international is expected to depart Sporting in this summer’s transfer window with £60million likely to be enough for an exit to be sanctioned. The Gunners have been strongly linked to signing him ahead of the 2025/26 season with Mikel Arteta in need of a striker.
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko are the other options for Arsenal. United are also on the hunt for an addition up top with Wolves star Matheus Cunha and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap also believed to be of interest alongside Gyokeres.
Cunha is certainly the first priority for Ruben Amorim however, with reports of an agreement being struck on personal terms. His £62.5million release clause now needs to be activated with it claimed United will pay it using instalments.
With a large portion of their summer budget committed to that, United are almost out of the race to sign Gyokeres, according to Sky Sports Germany. As such, Arsenal could have a free run at acquiring his services.
Staying in Sporting, while highly unlikely, is still possible with it clear at least two people close to him would like that scenario to play out. His girlfriend and uncle have both issued emphatic verdicts stating they would like him to stay.
“They [his family] really like Portugal; I think they want to be here and enjoy the city, the good weather, and all the atmosphere,” Gyokeres admitted when responding to those comments.
“But it’s football and that’s another thing. We’ll see what happens. Yes [I would like to win a third title with Sporting], but we’ll see. I don’t know what will happen in the summer… let’s see what happens.”
“I don’t know anything, I tried to focus on the last few games, if something is true, we’ll see,” he added when asked specifically about links to Arsenal after Sporting’s cup final triumph over Benfica.
With Sporting winning two trophies in just a few weeks, he has every right to celebrate and he is doing exactly that. Alongside a video of him with one of those trophies, Gyokeres wrote on Instagram: “walk it like I talk it.”
Despite United no longer being in the race for his signature, Fernandes has made his feelings clear by liking the post. It is also worth nothing that the 30-year-old spent three years in Lisbon and is therefore likely very pleased seeing his former club, led by Gyokeres, do so well.
