Juventus Leads €70m Viktor Gyokeres Transfer Race Amid Arsenal, Man Utd Cool Interest

Arsenal's pursuit of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has encountered significant complications due to disagreements over his transfer fee. While Gyokeres is reportedly keen on joining Arsenal, favoring their Champions League status over Manchester United, Sporting president Frederico Varandas has denied any formal agreement to sell the player below his release clause, leading to tension and a substantial increase in the asking price from around £60 million to approximately £80 million. This price hike has caused Arsenal to freeze negotiations and shift their focus to younger alternatives like Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig and Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa. Juventus has emerged as a leading contender to sign Gyokeres, planning a bid that may still fall short of Sporting's demands, while Manchester United appears to have stepped back from pursuing the striker amid the ongoing saga. The situation remains fluid, with Arsenal's sporting director Andrea Berta continuing to monitor multiple transfer targets to strengthen the squad.