First Arsenal player breaks silence following claims Viktor Gyokeres could join Man Utd An Arsenal star has spoken out following rumours Man Utd will ‘hijack’ the deal
One of Arsenal’s key players has officially broken silence amid growing speculation that Manchester United are preparing a dramatic hijack of Arsenal’s deal for striker Viktor Gyökeres.
The Portuguese forward has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates for weeks, with multiple reports confirming Arsenal had already agreed personal terms and were close to finalizing a €90 million move. But in the last 48 hours, the situation took a twist — with Man Utd reportedly attempting to swoop in with a last-minute counter-offer.
In response, an unnamed Arsenal player — described as a “senior squad member” — has publicly backed the club’s pursuit of Gyökeres and sent a clear message to rivals.
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💬 Arsenal Player Responds: “He belongs here”
During a press conference ahead of Arsenal’s friendly clash this weekend, the player said:
> “I’ve seen the stories, I’ve heard the noise — but all I can say is, Viktor would be perfect for us. He belongs here, not at United. If he wants to win things, grow under the right manager, and be part of something special, this is the place to be.”
Though the player wasn’t named officially by the club, sources suggest it was one of Arsenal’s senior attackers who already had direct conversations with Gyökeres during the negotiations.
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🧠 Arteta Staying Calm Amid Chaos
Despite the sudden buzz surrounding Man Utd’s intervention, Mikel Arteta is said to be calm and confident that Arsenal’s project and long-term vision remain more attractive than United’s offer.
Insiders at the club reveal Gyökeres has already held advanced talks with Arteta and technical director Edu, and has been sold on the idea of leading the line for a young, dynamic Arsenal squad aiming to challenge for both the Premier League and Champions League.
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🆚 United’s Late Bid: Desperation or Strategy?
Manchester United’s interest appears to be a response to their ongoing striker dilemma. With the likes of Rasmus Højlund underperforming and other targets proving difficult to land, the Red Devils are reportedly ready to match or exceed Arsenal’s bid for the Sporting CP forward.
But Arsenal fans have responded swiftly online, with the hashtag #HandsOffGyokeres trending across X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
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⚽ What’s Next?
Sources close to the deal say Arsenal are still “in pole position” and that the player has not changed his stance — he wants to wear the red and white.
If all goes to plan, Arsenal could finalize the transfer before the end of the week and present Gyökeres at the Emirates Cup.
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👀 Final Word
With tensions rising between the two Premier League giants off the pitch, this could turn into one of the summer’s most dramatic transfer battles. But with Arsenal players publicly backing the move and Arteta leading the charge, the Gunners remain confident of landing their man.