Manchester United have reportedly suffered a significant setback in their pursuit of Viktor Gyökeres, amid claims from Portugal that the prolific striker has rejected a move to Old Trafford.

Gyökeres has been the subject of strong Premier League interest since last summer following an exceptional goalscoring run in Portugal. The 27-year-old has netted an astonishing 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP and is believed to have a gentlemen’s agreement in place to leave the club for a fee of around £59 million.

However, Sporting president Frederico Varandas has recently dismissed the existence of such an agreement. In contrast, Gyökeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, insists he holds evidence supporting the claim that a verbal deal was made.

Now, in a surprising development, Portuguese outlet Record reports that Gyökeres has turned down Manchester United, rejecting the chance to reunite with Sporting manager Rúben Amorim at the Premier League club.

According to the publication, the striker’s representatives have already communicated his decision to United’s hierarchy—leaving Arsenal as the frontrunners to secure the Swedish international’s signature.

Tensions Between Gyökeres and Sporting Surface
Gyökeres’ apparent decision comes amid increasing friction between the striker and Sporting. The forward recently posted a cryptic message on Instagram regarding the situation, stating:

“There is a lot of talk at the moment, most of it is false. I will speak when the time is right.”

If reports from Portugal prove accurate, United may now be forced to restart their search for a new centre-forward. Gyökeres’ alleged snub follows a separate disappointment earlier this summer, when Liam Delap opted to join Chelsea instead of the Red Devils.

Alternative Targets for United
With Gyökeres and Delap seemingly out of contention, Manchester United may now turn their attention to alternative targets. Two names still under consideration are Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike.

Reports earlier this week suggested that United had reopened negotiations for Osimhen, who recently rejected a lucrative move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.