
Viktor Gyokeres' dad 'breaks down in tears' after latest twist in Arsenal move
The Gunners have made the Sweden international their top target to strengthen their front line and have made major progress in efforts to bring him to north London in recent weeks.
Gyokeres is desperate to make the move to north London having refused to return to pre-season training with Sporting CP but a fee with the Portuguese giants has still not been agreed.
While Arsenal have agreed to pay €63.5 million (£54.9m) up front, Sporting are standing firm over add-on payments.
While the clubs do not appear to be far off, A Bola now report 'real pessimism' has emerged over the weekend among those at the centre of negotiations.
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The stalemate has reportedly devastated Gyokeres' family who feel the 26-year-old is doing everything he can to get the move over the line. His father Stefan 'burst into tears' and was left emotionally distraught over the weekend, now believing move will not go through, according to Maisfutebol.
The report concludes the risk of the move falling through completely is now high.
Sporting's demands over add-on fees have been the source of the frustration.
Arsenal have offered a €63.5 million (£54.9m) up front, plus a further €10m (£8.6m) in bonuses.
The Gunners are then proposing €5m (£4.3m) plus a further €5m in add-ons but Sporting are demanding €7.5m (£6.4m) as the first payment.
Arsenal had hoped to reach an agreement before Mikel Arteta's squad leave London for their pre-season tour of Asia on Saturday.
But the squad set off without a deal done and the move still in real doubt.
Last weekend, Spring president Frederico Varandas issued a statement warning Arsenal they will not be strong-armed into a deal.
'If the geniuses who are devising this strategy think this puts pressure on me to facilitate an exit, they are not only completely wrong but are also making the player's exit conditions even more complicated,' Varandas said. More Trending
'No one is above the interests of the club, whoever they are.
'If they don't want to pay for Viktor fair market value, we are perfectly comfortable with this for the next three years [the time left on Gyokeres' contract].
'We are calm about all this. Everything can be resolved with a market closure, a heavy fine, and an apology to the group.'
MORE: Ruben Amorim and Patrick Dorgu give verdict on new Man Utd star Diego Leon
MORE: Thomas Frank explains why three players missed Tottenham's win over Reading
MORE: Eddie Howe teases Arsenal and Liverpool with Alexander Isak transfer update
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Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
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Man United's revival, a bad omen for Liverpool... and the side playing in Europe set for a relegation battle: Supercomputer predicts the Premier League table
Liverpool will fail to successfully defend their Premier League title this summer, despite their huge summer splurge of more than £290million. That's according to a Sportscasting supercomputer, which has predicted the final top flight table just a matter of weeks out from the start of the new season. The Reds have taken the opportunity of the summer transfer window to invest heavily in their squad, with the likes of Hugo Ekitike (£79m), Florian Wirtz (£116m) and Milos Kerkez (£40m) among the arrivals so far. Elsewhere, Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m) and Giorgi Mamardashvili (£29m) have also joined, while the champions maintain interest in Alexander Isak, who has told Newcastle he is interested in leaving but would again cost north of £100m. According to the supercomputer, though, the Reds will only manage a third-place finish this season, despite reaching 85 points, having finished on 84 last season. The champions will instead be Manchester City, according to the prediction. Arsenal will also be sandwiched between them, once again finishing second. On Liverpool's chances, the supercomputer said: 'Arne Slot's rebuilt side will feature a potent attack - with Mo Salah alongside signings Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz. 'But their defence will let them down against top teams, causing them to slip to third in the title race.' The Reds have lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, while their centre back options are just Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, with Joe Gomez injured. On City, meanwhile, who came third last season as they gave up their title for the first time in five years, the computer said: 'Even without any seismic squad changes, their machine-like system - powered by Omar Marmoush, Phil Foden, the returning Rodri, and a 36-goal season from Erling Haaland - keeps them dominant. 'Their depth and consistency in tight matches give them the edge over Arsenal and Liverpool.' The prediction states that City will finish on 92 points - four ahead of Arsenal. That suggests the title race could go down to the final day. Occupying the fourth Champions League spot is predicted to be Chelsea, building on their Club World Cup success this summer, managing 79 points. In fifth, meanwhile, is quite an eye-catching call. Manchester United are set to return to the upper echelons of the top flight, show vast improvement under Ruben Amorim as he enters his first full season in charge of the club. United haven't been majorly busy in the summer transfer window with just Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon arriving for north of £140m combined, but they are expected to look to continue to buy and build on their 15th-place finish last season. United do not have European competition to balance this year, meaning they will have a free shot at Premier League success, and, according to the supercomputer, that will pay off. While Aston Villa are listed in fifth, Tottenham will also have an improved season as they climb from 17th to seventh in the table. Thomas Frank is now in charge, and the club are hoping for an improvement on the field. One side who will struggle to do that, though, is apparently Newcastle. Eddie Howe's side snuck into the Champions League last term because of Villa losing on the final day, but have struggled in their recruitment this summer. So far, the Magpies have signed Anthony Elanga for £55m, but have lost out on the likes of Ekitike and seem set to be beaten to James Trafford by Manchester City too. While they are monitoring Aaron Ramsdale, they could also lose Isak and go into this season somewhat weaker than the last. West Ham, though, could improve under Graham Potter and finish ninth, while Everton are tipped to make the top 10 in their new stadium. Wolves are also backed for improvement under Vitor Periera despite losing Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri in 12th, just behind Brighton in 11th. Frank's departure isn't predicted to impact Brentford too much, either, with Keith Andrews' side tipped to come 13th. That is ahead of London rivals Fulham in 14th, FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in 15th and Bournemouth in 16th. That trio will apparently finish ahead of Nottingham Forest, who will seemingly suffer a dramatic fall from grace after finishing seventh last term, narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot. Despite keeping hold of Morgan Gibbs-White and only losing Elanga from their big names, Forest are tipped to come 17th this season. That is once again ahead of the three newly-promoted sides, with Burnley in 18th, Sunderland 19th and Leeds 20th. Though it could go down to the final day, Forest are predicted to reach 40 points, five ahead of Burnley with 35. 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Metro
an hour ago
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Crystal Palace boss reveals transfer concern amid Eberechi Eze speculation
Oliver Glasner is hopeful Eberechi Eze will not leave Crystal Palace for Arsenal this summer, as he took aim at the club's lack of transfer activity. This summer is a very important transfer window for Palace as they look to build upon their FA Cup triumph and record Premier League points tally. So far however, it has been a little underwhelming with back-up goalkeeper Walter Benitez (free) and left-back Borna Sosa (£3million) the only arrivals. Moreover, head coach Glasner faces the prospect of losing several key players before deadline day, most notably England duo Eze and Marc Guehi. Eze is of great interest to Arsenal and, if reports are to believed, would be keen on moving to the club that released him as a 13-year-old. It is said the Gunners don't want to pay his full release clause worth £68m but have not ruled out a move for the attacking midfielder who recorded 25 goal contributions last season. Centre-back and captain Guehi has entered the last year of his contract and is being tracked by Liverpool and Tottenham. Following the FA Cup victory in May, Glasner said he was given assurances by Palace's hierarchy that they would get their transfer business done early but that has not materialised. Palace are currently on a pre-season tour of Austria, where they played Mainz on Tuesday. Speaking to local newspaper Kronen Zeitung, the head coach has now vented his frustration: 'Even though all the players are still here, we haven't made the most of the transfer window so far. 'I was promised that we would be more active and bring in the new players earlier this year. 'As of now, I have 17 outfield players. I hope we don't lose any more. If that happens and we get four new ones on deadline day like last year, another false start is possible.' While last season ended brilliantly for the Eagles, it started terribly with the south London club winless in their opening eight league games and winning just one of their first 13 before their form turned around. In addition to Eze and Guehi, there has also been much interest in striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and defensive midfielder Adam Wharton, though the latter wishes to stay at Selhurst Park this coming season. More Trending Palace's transfer activity has been compromised somewhat as they still do not know what European competition they will playing in in 2025/26. The FA Cup victory qualified them for the Europa League but UEFA have controversially demoted them to the Conference League for a breach of Multi-Club Ownership rules. Palace are challenging the demotion at the Court of Arbitration for Sport but may not learn their fate until August 11, just days before the new Premier League campaign begins. Whatever happens, the Eagles will kick-off the new season against Liverpool in the Community Shield on August 10, before taking on Chelsea in their opening league game on August 17. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Viktor Gyokeres has already set a new Arsenal club record before debut MORE: Liverpool set to beat Arsenal in transfer race for Salford City wonderkid MORE: Chelsea keen to sign '25-goal' Man Utd star after Xavi Simons


Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Bryan Mbeumo: Manchester United project convinced me to reject Newcastle and Spurs
The process that eventually saw Bryan Mbeumo move from Brentford to Manchester United for £71m was far from smooth. There were 44 days of fractious negotiations between United first bidding for the Cameroon international and finally getting the transfer over the line. But amid the drama and twists and turns and acrimony and claims of Brentford trying to push Mbeumo towards Tottenham Hotspur or Newcastle, a couple of things never wavered: the player's determination to join United and his belief the deal would get done. Thomas Frank, who had helped to turn Mbeumo into one of the Premier League's most effective attackers at Brentford, was desperate to reunite with the player at Spurs. Similarly, Eddie Howe had identified the 25-year-old as a key summer target for his upwardly mobile Newcastle, who had the advantage of being able to offer Champions League football. Arsenal were also said to be in the mix. Mbeumo says he took the time to speak to managers of other clubs and listen carefully to their respective pitches but ultimately could not look beyond United and the prospect of putting them back on top, even after their worst season for 51 years. 'No [I never feared it would not happen], I always trust the people around me and I was convinced that it was going to happen,' explained Mbeumo, who had reported back for pre-season training with Brentford with a deal still hanging in the balance. 'The transfer windows can be long, they can be short. So you have to be patient, and just try to keep thinking positively about things. I was obviously on my holidays, so I just wanted to think about resting mentally and physically and if it was going to happen, it was going to happen. 'Of course I spoke to some other managers because I wanted to hear their projects but the Manchester United one was very good for me. 'I think I'm someone who likes a challenge. There is a very good project in Manchester and I wanted to be part of it. Manchester is a big club. I think it's a great opportunity.' Ruben Amorim has endured a tough time since replacing Erik ten Hag as United's head coach last November. But the charismatic Portuguese has a crystal clear vision in his mind of what he wants for the team and club and Mbeumo bought wholeheartedly into those ambitious plans. 'He said 'We are people who like winning and we want to be the best team',' Mbeumo said. 'And of course that's what we will try to do. It was a very friendly conversation and a constructive one. He explained his project to me, what he wanted to do and I really clicked on that.' At the same time, he had André Onana, the United goalkeeper and his Cameroon team-mate, in his ear, badgering him to join. 'I spoke to him and, yeah, he wanted me to come,' Mbeumo said. 'It's always good to have someone like him around.' New signing has key ingredients to hit the ground running Mbeumo is speaking in a quiet corner of the Waldorf Astoria in downtown Chicago, where Amorim and his squad are staying for the majority of their pre-season tour of the US. United fans are likely to have to wait until their side face Everton in Atlanta in their final game of the Premier League Summer Series on Sunday to catch a glimpse of Mbeumo in action, with the forward still getting up to speed having returned for pre-season a week later than his new Old Trafford team-mates. Nonetheless, Amorim's hopes of Mbeumo hitting the ground running will be boosted by the knowledge that his new signing is not only well proven in the Premier League but familiar with the 3-4-2-1 system he favours. Plenty of United players struggled with the adaptation to that new formation last season but Mbeumo may find the transition a little easier. 'Of course it will help me because I've played in many formations before,' he said. Mbeumo did most of his best work for Brentford on the right of an attacking three in a 4-2-3-1 but Frank also used him as a striker and wing-back on occasion. Amorim is thought to have earmarked Mbeumo primarily for the right-sided No 10 role, with fellow summer signing Matheus Cunha occupying the left, behind a new striker potentially. United have narrowed their search to one of RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko or Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, whom Mbeumo previously excelled alongside at Brentford. A reunion with a player Mbeumo described as a 'complete striker' on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast would be intriguing but, whatever transpires, the Cameroonian believes he can thrive wherever Amorim plays him. 'Obviously I've played as a winger mainly at Brentford but I don't have one specific position where I feel I can do the best,' he said. 'With Brentford I used to also play as a 10 in the pocket or even as a No 9. I can play all those positions. 'I think now, in football, you have to be adaptable and be able to play in a few other positions than what you'd say is your best. But I think it's really good to gain experience. Whatever position the gaffer wants to put me in, I will play there. My first aim is to make sure I'm ready for the start of the season so I'll keep working hard.' 'I don't put limits on what I can do' Mbeumo has been seen doing extra sprint training in recent days, including working with some of the younger players in sessions that involve attacking with the ball and then sprinting back in a recovery run as he bids to get up to speed. Only the bottom three and Everton scored fewer than United's 44 goals in the Premier League last season and Amorim is hoping Mbeumo and Cunha can bring a new dimension to his attack. Mbeumo scored 20 goals in the Premier League last season but is targeting more. 'I always want to be better than I was yesterday,' he said. 'I'm very demanding on myself and I always try to do the best. I don't like to put limits on myself as well.' Whereas Cunha, a £62.5m signing from Wolves, is outgoing, Mbeumo is a quieter, more understated character. Away from football, he loves to play chess and the piano. Brentford even bought a piano for the players' games room at their Hounslow training ground, primarily with Mbeumo in mind. The irony, though, is that while the prospect of playing before 75,000 at Old Trafford holds no fear for him, he gets nervous playing the piano in front of even a small gathering of people. 'I don't really like to play in front of people,' he says. 'It's funny, but it's so different [playing football in front of tens and thousands]. Even if I play in front of a couple of friends at home, I'm not exactly shaking but it's 'Oh guys, this is kind of hard for me'.' By contrast, being centre stage in front of a raucous crowd at Old Trafford is music to his ears. 'This is part of it as well because you want to play on the greatest stages in the world and Old Trafford is one of them,' he said. 'So being able to play here every two weeks is just big. 'The piano is nothing really linked to football. It just makes me take time for me, helps me relax myself in my free time.' And chess? 'Even if it's not physical, there is a lot of thought,' Mbeumo explains. 'When you play football you have to think. Playing chess you can see some moves ahead because it is a strategy game. In football, you have your strategy as well so you can link them together.' As with the piano, Mbeumo says he taught himself how to play chess. 'I'm not crazy good but if you know the rating, I'm like 800 on he said. 'I have a user name, you choose a nickname and just play against random people online, and I use my own chess board against them.' He is a fan of The Queen's Gambit, the hit Netflix drama that was also credited with bringing chess to a wider audience, but has not yet got round to watching the documentary on the five-time world chess champion, Magnus Carlsen. 'Maybe I should,' he said. 'I've been told that Josh [Zirkzee at United] plays so I might need to play against him and bring in the chess board. 'There was one period where I was really, really into it. I was watching videos on YouTube, doing training on the app. I think for the brain, it's really, really good and you can develop like new skills. 'Obviously, you're doing football most of the time – every day – so sometimes you don't really have time to develop other skills. I like creativity and stuff.' United have been on the wrong end of Mbeumo's creativity on the pitch more times than they would care to remember, not least a 4-0 defeat at Brentford in August 2022 when he scored and ran them ragged. Now they hope he can do the same to opposition defences in their colours at the club he has dreamed of representing.