Arsenal Beat Manchester United to Viktor Gyokeres Signing — Agent Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Drama 🔴⚽

One of Viktor Gyokeres’ agents, Jonathan Chalkias, has revealed that Manchester United had actually agreed on a higher transfer fee with Sporting Lisbon for the Swedish striker — but the player’s heart was already set on Arsenal.

Speaking on the Studio Allsvenskan podcast, Chalkias disclosed that United’s bid exceeded Arsenal’s £63 million offer, yet Gyokeres refused to budge from his desire to join Mikel Arteta’s project at the Emirates.

“There was also the problem with Sporting that they had finalised the deal with United behind our backs,” Chalkias said.
“They [Sporting] had agreed because United paid a much higher transfer fee, but they didn’t get any attention.
Every time they called, it was ‘no, no, no,’ because he wanted to go to Arsenal.”

Arsenal’s deal for the 27-year-old reportedly includes €63.5 million upfront and €10 million in add-ons — a decisive move that fended off not only United but also a lucrative Saudi Arabian offer.

Opinion: Arsenal’s Pull Power Is Back — And Gyokeres Proves It 💥

Gyokeres’ decision to turn down a richer contract and United’s prestige says a lot — not just about the striker’s ambition, but about Arsenal’s growing influence under Arteta.

A few years ago, a player rejecting Manchester United for Arsenal would’ve sounded absurd. But football evolves, and right now, Arsenal represent a clear identity, a defined project, and a manager players want to play for.

Gyokeres choosing Arsenal isn’t just a transfer — it’s a statement. It signals that the Gunners are no longer the “almost-there” club. They’re building something serious, and top talents can see it.

For Manchester United, however, this revelation adds another layer to a worrying pattern — big money, big plans, but little conviction from top players. Despite offering more, they lost the battle of belief.

In modern football, money talks — but vision wins. And in this case, Arsenal’s vision spoke louder than United’s cheque. 🔴🔥