Viktor Gyokeres' agent has claimed that Manchester United agreed a transfer fee with Sporting CP for the Swedish striker without his knowledge, before he ultimately joined Arsenal in a £63.7 million deal this summer. Jonathan Chalkias, an assistant to agent Hasan Cetinkaya, said the Red Devils offered a higher fee than the Gunners, but the deal was concluded 'behind our backs'.
Gyokeres, 27, went on strike at Sporting to force through a move to the Emirates, having failed to report for pre-season training. Chalkias told the Studio Allsvenskan podcast: 'They (Sporting) had concluded a deal with Manchester United behind our backs, that was a problem. United offered a higher transfer fee.'
The north London club made Gyokeres their primary target after abandoning a move for RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko due to wage demands. Sesko eventually joined Manchester United for £74 million. Chalkias also revealed that Saudi Arabian clubs had offered 'crazy amounts' for Gyokeres, but the player prioritised the Arsenal move for marketing and career reasons.
Chalkias criticised Sporting chief Frederico Varandas for his public comments during the transfer saga, and suggested that former Sporting director Hugo Viana's departure to Manchester City complicated negotiations. 'If Viana were still at Sporting, the deal would have been done within an hour,' he said. 'I don't understand how a player who scored so many goals and won three trophies didn't deserve more respect.'
