Latest news with #Sporting
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd ready to rival Man City for signing of second Sporting Lisbon star
Manchester United are interested in signing another of Ruben Amorim's former Sporting Lisbon players, though they look set to miss out on a deal for Viktor Gyokeres Manchester United are set to try and compete with Manchester City for the signature of the Sporting Lisbon midfielder, Morten Hjulmand before the summer is out. Both clubs remain in the market for quality additions ahead of the new Premier League campaign and are keen on signing Hjulmand, 26, from Sporting. But they are not the only ones keen on the Danish midfielder, who has also been the subject of interest from Juventus. A new report from Abola outlines that United are among the teams with a live interest in signing Hjulmand this summer. Both United and City will know all about Hjulmand due to Ruben Amorim and Hugo Viana who both worked with the player at Sporting. But a sticking price for either team could be the midfielder's asking price, with Sporting determined to accept nothing less than the star's €80million (£69.2m) release clause. The report outlines that stance has already deterred interest from Juventus, who had attempted to strike a deal worth €30m-40m through intermediaries. Hjulmand is the second Sporting player that Manchester United have been linked with this week amid claims in the Portuguese press that they were close to hijacking Arsenal's swoop for Viktor Gyokeres. But while Amorim has made no secret of his admiration for Gyokeres - and would love to reunite with him in Manchester - the Sweden international is only advancing in talks with Arsenal. United are expected to target a new striker after finalising a deal for Bryan Mbeumo, who should be officially unveiled on Monday. Gyokeres, though, is Arsenal-bound unless something drastic occurs in the coming days. The Gunners and Sporting have yet to agree on the final details of a financial package for the striker, who plundered a remarkable 54 goals last season. The player may have his heart set on a move to Arsenal but Frederico Varandas, Sporting's president, continues to insist he will not leave on the cheap. 'If they don't want to pay Viktor's fair market value, we're very comfortable with that for the next three years,' he said recently. "This strategy is also making it more complicated for the player to leave. Nobody is above the interests of the club. Whoever they are. We're calm. Everything will be resolved with the market closing, a hefty fine and an apology to the group.'
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Goldbridge: 'He'd fit our system like a bloody glove'
Manchester United Transfer Update: Gyökeres Talks Spark Frenzy on The United Stand Fresh Pursuit of Gyökeres Raises Eyebrows On Sunday's edition of The United Stand, Mark Goldbridge opened with a bang: 'Manchester United are back in for Viktor Gyökeres and are very close to signing him.' A surprising revelation, not least because of recent reports linking the Swedish forward almost exclusively with Arsenal. Goldbridge made it clear that this wasn't a joke, quipping, 'It's not April Fools,' before launching into a detailed breakdown of the unfolding situation. According to Goldbridge, 'Manchester United made a supersonic approach to Sporting and presented figures slightly above those negotiated with Arsenal between 70 and 80 million euros.' The original report, as he explained, came via Portuguese outlet SIC Notícias and was corroborated by A Bola and Record, all of whom indicated that Manchester United had moved decisively in recent hours. Goldbridge Reacts: 'I'd Absolutely Love It' While Goldbridge admitted his scepticism, saying, 'I don't believe it,' he could not hide his excitement. 'If you think for one second I'm going to start to get excited about this, you'd be absolutely right,' he laughed, adding, 'I bloody love it. I'd absolutely love it.' Despite his doubts about United's ability to complete the deal, Goldbridge made it clear that Gyökeres would be a perfect fit. 'He'd fit our system like a bloody glove,' he said emphatically. The bigger obstacle appears to be the player's preference. 'He doesn't want to come to us, he wants to go to Arsenal.' Strategic Move or Tactical Bluff? Goldbridge suggested that United's sudden involvement may be a calculated attempt to force Arsenal's hand. 'If I was Man United, I would say there's 60, push the price up and make Arsenal have to go higher,' he said, referencing the ongoing stalemate between Arsenal and Sporting. Arsenal have reportedly offered €55 million, with Sporting holding out for more. In his view, the move could be part of a wider transfer strategy: 'Maybe now Rashford's wage is gone, maybe we've just walked in and gone there's 60 million.' He added, 'I think Yárez is worth 60 at minimum. So why don't we just give them 60? Why are we arguing for 55?' He even suggested Manchester United may be used in this saga similarly to how Newcastle once entered the race for a player United ultimately failed to land: 'We might just be being used here like Newcastle we used to get Emmo.' Still Waiting on Reliable Confirmation Goldbridge remained cautious, awaiting updates from trusted names in the transfer scene. 'We need an update from an Ornstein or a Romano and they will be 100 percent all over this trying to find out what's going on,' he said. Yet even amid the caution, the enthusiasm was evident. 'If you let this happen, footballing gods, I won't take the piss out of Arsenal,' Goldbridge joked. He ended the segment playfully, 'I'll have a glass of champas and I'll still run around the garden with my top off as well.' Whether Manchester United are seriously in for Viktor Gyökeres or simply stirring the pot in a transfer window full of strategic plays remains to be seen. But as far as Goldbridge and The United Stand community are concerned, the possibility has more than sparked imaginations.
Metro
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Metro
Arsenal fans convinced Arteta dropped major Gyokeres hint during presser
Fans believe Mikel Arteta may have let slip Viktor Gyokeres' impending arrival from Sporting as he was asked about the striker at a press conference on day one of Arsenal's pre-season tour of Asia. Speculation surrounding Gyokeres' future has dominated the the headlines ahead of Arsenal's trip to Singapore, with updates arriving at a pace throughout the course of the summer. The Gunners have already wrapped up deals for Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga and the club are privately confident that Gyokeres will be the fifth new recruit through the doors at the Emirates. Gyokeres is understood to be Arsenal's primary target up front and personal terms have been agreed with the prolific 27-year-old forward, who scored 54 goals in 42 games for Sporting last season. However, a fee is still yet to be agreed with the Portuguese champions and Manchester United remain a serious threat to Arsenal's hopes of luring Gyokeres to north London ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Some reports emanating out of Portugal at the weekend suggested Arsenal's move for Gyokeres was hanging in the balance, with the Swede's father said to have broken down in tears as talks continue to stall. Asked how close Arsenal are to signing Gyokeres, Arteta told reporters: 'You know I cannot comment on any player that is not part of our group yet. 'When we have something concrete to offer in any case, to any player, we will do that.' Arsenal supporters have been ready ready to latch onto any possible hints or signs of positivity regarding a deal for Gyokeres – and it's fair to say Arteta's use of the word 'yet' has got many fans a little excited on social media. Some began welcoming Gyokeres to the club upon hearing Arteta's supposed clue, while others jokingly shared gifs of the Spaniard's face superimposed on a well-known gif of Arsene Wenger smirking prior to Mesut Ozil's arrival in 2013. Mikel Arteta on Gyokeres' deal: "I cannot comment on any player who is not part of our group yet."The 'yet' part though 👀 — Vidricø Ars (@VidricIvanovit2) July 21, 2025 Arteta said about Gyokeres, I can't comment on any player that is not part pf the group yet. 'Yet'. Welcome Gyokeres 🤷🏻♂️ — Londonisred (@Afcbloodgroup) July 21, 2025 ' Can't talk YET'. That's a big statement ✌️ — SIR ALEX WENGER (@siralexwengee) July 21, 2025 Arteta confirmed that Arsenal's hierarchy were working hard behind the scenes to strengthen, while admitting his squad remains 'short in terms of numbers' in certain areas. 'There's still a long time in the window and we are seeking,' he added. 'We are short in terms of numbers and we have to improve the depth and the quality of the squad. 'We are constantly looking in the market but we've got to focus on the players that we actually have, work with them and I'm very pleased with what I've seen so far in the first ten to 15 days.' The Arsenal head coach is 'very pleased' with the support he has received from sporting director Andrea Berta and the rest of the board in the transfer market. 'Ideally, you want it [all transfer business] for day one of pre-season so we've done very, very well so far,' he continued. 'I'm very pleased with the way the club is supporting the necessities and improvements that we required in the team. 'I think Andrea [Berta] and the team are doing an excellent job as well, trying to push everything forwards. 'There's still a long time to go in the window and we have a lot of hopes that we can still improve the team. We're going to continue to try to do that.' Asked whether Arsenal are ahead of schedule with their transfer dealings, Arteta replied: 'I'm very pleased, that's what I would say. 'There are a lot of parties and a lot of things that we have to bear in mind to get a player over the line, but I'm very that we're going to do it soon. 'It's exciting. The moment that you see the club with an ownership and the ambition that they have, the alignment that we had with everybody on the board, with everybody that is connected with Andrea.' After several months of back and forth, Arsenal finally announced that a deal had been completed for Real Sociedad Zubimendi earlier this month – and Arteta has been blown away by the immediate impact his fellow countryman has made on the training field. 'It was a long, long process and he had a lot of opportunities to decide whether to come,' he explained. 'The good news is that this club is amazing and everybody wants to come to it. 'He left some very good opportunities to come to us and he's been very impressive. I think we're all very impressed with what we've seen in the last seven to 10 days. 'Once you have the player daily there, you see his character, his personality, his intelligence and how much he's going to bring to the dream. I'm very excited about him.' Arteta is similarly 'excited' about the arrival of Madueke, who became Arsenal's eighth signing from Chelsea in the last ten years. 'It's probably because they have some great players and a lot of players!' Arteta joked. 'But yeah, we try to focus on the players that we want to sign. 'The squad and the quality of the squad, also I want to congratulate them for winning the Club World Cup because I think it was a big achievement for them. 'With Noni, I'm very, very excited. You saw the reaction of all the players as well, especially the ones that know them very well.. 'He needs a little bit of a break now but he will be with us soon, showing what he is going to bring to the team.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: 'Hard to come by' – Man Utd urged to sign £34m former Chelsea star MORE: Man Utd hold talks with Chelsea star's agent as new signing completes medical MORE: Adam Wharton makes transfer decision amid Man Utd and Liverpool interest
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal star Gabriel gives Viktor Gyokeres verdict as transfer saga rumbles on
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has been speaking about Viktor Gyokeres as the club try and thrash out the final details of the deal to sign the striker from Sporting Lisbon Gabriel Magalhaes has sang the praises of Viktor Gyokeres as Arsenal continue to try and close a deal with Sporting Lisbon for the sought-after striker. Gyokeres, 27, is the No 9 Arsenal want to bolster their squad ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. However, they have so far failed to reach an agreement with Sporting, who want the add-ons in any deal - worth £63.6million in total - to be easily achievable. The Sweden international has grown frustrated with Sporting's stance, particularly as he thought an agreement was in place for him to leave for a smaller sum this summer. And while speculation and further talks continue to rumble on in the background, Gabriel was asked for his verdict on Gyokeres after coming face to face with the Sporting star in the Champions League last year. The Brazil defender told BBC Sport: "We all know he is a great player, but he is a Sporting player not an Arsenal player. "Playing against him last year was a challenge. He is great and had a great season. About the celebration, it is something I can't talk about right now." Reports in Portugal claiming that Manchester United were close to gazumping Arsenal to a deal for Gyokeres on Sunday briefly sparked panic among fans before being squashed. It had been hoped Gyokeres would be signed in time to join Arsenal on their pre-season tour of Asia. But a deadlock over the structure of the £8.6m in add-ons that Sporting will receive has scuppered those plans. While a deal for Gyokeres is not yet over the line, Arsenal have signed Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke, with the young Valencia defender, Cristhian Mosquera, also set to join. Speaking of Arsenal's summer business so far, Gabriel added: "I think the players that came will help us out a lot. The club is doing what is best for the players and the manager. They are definitely doing their best to bring the best players that can help us, but we have to focus on what we can do out on the pitch. "The players that are here are doing that. We are strong and we are getting stronger with these new players. "Definitely, it excites me. We want to have the best players. To be in the dispute for titles, you have to have the best players." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal transfer news: Man Utd attempt to hijack Viktor Gyokeres deal as legal letter issued
Arsenal have headed off on their pre-season tour of south east Asia without Viktor Gyokeres - and now Manchester United are trying to muscle in on their deal for the Sporting striker Arsenal are focusing on two more deals after wrapping up four transfers in the summer window so far. The Gunners completed the signing of Noni Madueke in a £52million transfer from Chelsea on Friday as Mikel Arteta got his way in the transfer market. Madueke's arrival followed those of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard and took their spending to around £134m for the summer. Finishing second in the Premier League three times in succession means that Arsenal know they need significant strengthening this summer. And that means sporting director Andrea Berta remains an extremely busy man. His focus is currently on getting the transfer of Viktor Gyokeres over the line, while the announcement of Cristhian Mosquera is just around the corner. Mosquera is in the bag, with Arsenal simply awaiting confirmation from La Liga, but Gyokeres is a different story. Here are the latest stories concerning the Gunners. Man Utd bid for Gyokeres Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon verbally agreed a deal in principle for Gyokeres last weekend, but they have so far failed to yield a full agreement. And that could prove costly if reports from Portugal are true. SIC says Arsenal's deal is 'increasingly at risk'. They say the fixed offer set at €63.5m (£55m), which rises to €70m (£60m) is not acceptable for Sporting, who have now received another bidder. United have thrown a cat amongst the pigeons by offering €70-80million (£60-69m).Record says that Gyokeres – who played under Ruben Amorim at Sporting – still only wants to join Arsenal, however. But with Sporting president Federico Varandas chasing the best deal, it could be telling. Legal letter issued Things have become increasingly bitter between Gyokeres and Sporting. The Swedish striker is on strike, refusing to report for pre-season training and is convinced he had a gentleman's agreement with the club for a transfer this summer. Sporting have begun legal proceedings against their own player over his continued no-show at the training ground. And now Gyokeres has responded with a legal letter in which he doubles down on his promise never to play for the club again and fires back at Varandas over his refusal to make good on this apparent agreement. Eze alternative identified Arsenal could turn to RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons as a cheaper alternative for Ebererchi Eze, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Gunners are one of the sides interested in signing Crystal Palace star Eze, but he is valued at £68m by the south London side. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said Arsenal and Chelsea both contacted Leipzig in June to discuss Simons, who previously played alongside Madueke at PSV Eindhoven. There has been no further contact and Romano believes that Arsenal will focus on selling players like Reiss Nelson before pursuing a deal for Eze or Simons. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
