Real Madrid have decided against joining the race for Sporting Lisbon's goal machine Viktor Gyokeres. The Spanish giants were offered the chance to sign the Swedish striker but quickly backed away from the potential £70m deal.
Gyokeres has been absolutely on fire in Portugal, scoring nearly 100 goals across the last two seasons. That kind of form has Premier League clubs scrambling for his signature this summer.
Arsenal currently lead the chase despite growing frustrated with complicated negotiations. Manchester United are also keen, with some believing they might have an edge since Gyokeres thrived under Ruben Amorim at Sporting.
Why Real Madrid Said No
Los Blancos turned down Gyokeres for two pretty straightforward reasons. First, they don't think the £70m price tag (down from his £84m release clause) represents good value for money.
Second, they believe a signing that expensive should be an automatic starter. At Real Madrid, with their attacking talent, Gyokeres would likely be a rotation option rather than first choice.
Carlo Ancelotti's team is instead looking for a backup striker similar to Joselu, who proved valuable as a squad player last season. With Endrick's recent hamstring injury, Real are currently relying on Castilla reserve player Gonzalo Garcia as their backup forward for the Club World Cup.
Madrid Focus on Young Talent
While passing on Gyokeres, Real Madrid have been busy elsewhere in the transfer market. They've just struck a deal for River Plate's teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono.
The 17-year-old midfielder will join in August after playing for River at the Club World Cup. Madrid triggered his buyout clause of €63m, making it the most expensive transfer in Argentine soccer history.
Mastantuono becomes Real's third signing this summer after Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen. The youngster recently became Argentina's youngest debutant in a World Cup qualifier against Chile.
For betting enthusiasts, Arsenal's position as frontrunners for Gyokeres could significantly boost their attacking options next season. Their current odds for Premier League success might represent good value if they secure the prolific striker.
Manchester United remains an interesting dark horse in this transfer saga. If they manage to hijack Arsenal's move, it could dramatically impact both clubs' prospects for the upcoming campaign.
With Juventus also reportedly interested, this transfer story has plenty of twists and turns left before the window closes. Smart bettors will be watching closely to see where Gyokeres lands before placing season-long wagers.
