Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting Lisbon’s sharp-shooting striker, has reportedly rejected Manchester United’s offer outright, despite previous rumours that he would reunite with his former coach, Ruben Amorim, at Old Trafford.
According to reports in the Portuguese media outlet Record, cited by Footem.in on Sunday (15 June 2025), Gyokeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, had directly informed United that his client was not interested in joining. This occurred even when Amorim’s name was being touted as a strong candidate to become the Red Devils’ new manager.
Gyokeres has performed exceptionally well this season. He scored 54 goals in 52 matches in all competitions, a record that has attracted interest from many top European clubs. Manchester United are one of the clubs most seriously looking for a new striker after performing inconsistently throughout the season.
Initially, Amorim’s presence was thought to be an added incentive for Gyokeres to come to Manchester. However, the opposite is true. According to sources close to the player, Gyokeres did not want to work with Amorim again and chose to stay away from the Old Trafford project.
Arsenal is now mentioned as a strong candidate for the striker’s next club. The Gunners have a much more stable team under Mikel Arteta, plus a Champions League spot. These two factors are believed to be a major attraction for Gyokeres, who wants to compete at the highest level and improve his chances of winning the title.
Although no formal offer has yet been made by Arsenal, Gyokeres’ rejection of United could prompt a swift response from the Emirates Stadium club.
The rejection is clearly a big blow for Manchester United. Amidst squad rebuilding and missing out on European participation, they have once again failed to convince a top target to join. Their reliance on Rasmus Højlund, who still needs time to develop, makes it all the more urgent that they bring in a new striker.
Gyokeres’ rejection further highlights concerns that United are no longer a desirable destination for elite players. With inconsistent performances and an unstable club structure, the big question is whether Old Trafford is still attractive to the world’s top stars.
