In light of continuing rumors that Sporting CP striker Victor Gyokeres is “angered” by his manager’s mid-season departure to Manchester United, Arsenal might have received a much-needed lift.
In the Premier League, changing players and even coaching staff always has a cascade of repercussions; the important thing is usually to avoid giving your opponents an advantage. Amorim’s appointment, which was confirmed on Friday lunchtime, will make Man United very happy, but it may also bring one of Europe’s most lethal goal scorers to the Gunners.
Some members of Sporting’s team have reportedly been left “questioning” their coach’s choice to move to Old Trafford halfway through the 2024–2025 season, according to a report by O Jogo. Among those notably mentioned is Gyokeres, who throughout the summer months drew significant interest from Arsenal and other elite European teams.
He reportedly believed that by staying in the Primera Liga, he remained faithful to Amorim, thus he wanted the head coach to do the same. Gyokeres now has to wait for his next significant transfer because faith has not been reimbursed.
Brighton had previously expressed interest in the 26-year-old Sweden international, but he chose to transfer to Coventry City instead. He made 116 appearances there, with 17 assists and 43 goals before opting to play for Sporting rather than teams in the Premier League’s lower divisions with which he was concurrently linked.
That proved to be a wise choice because he scored an additional 59 goals in 65 games during his year there, making him a Portuguese champion. Arsenal and their competitors have taken notice of this.
However, if the guy scores two more goals this midweek, disenchantment might become a problem for Arsenal. As the Amorim conversation heated up, Mikel Arteta’s professionalism appears to be yet another excellent quality.
It may now be up to him and the team to persuade this important “target” that the Emirates Stadium is the best place for him to continue his incredible ascent.
Although Gyokeres’ Lisbon contract purportedly includes an £84 million release clause, current reports indicate Sporting will actually entertain offers between £51 million and £59 million. Given their recent relationship with the player, United will undoubtedly play a significant role in this conversation, while Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City have also been brought up.
