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Published February 13, 2025 2:22pm Updated February 13, 2025 2:23pm
Manchester United are ‘unlikely’ to be able to persaude Viktor Gyokeres to reuinte with Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford this summer, according to reports.
Despite Amorim leaving Sporting Lisbon halfway through the season, Gyokeres has continued his sparkling form in front of goal.
The talismanic Swede has 22 goals in 20 league appearances this season having scored 29 the campaign prior to help fire Sporting to the club’s 20th league title.
United, meanwhile, still find themselves in desperate need of a reliable goalscorer, with Amorim even resorting to deploying Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine in a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in early February.
Both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have flattered to deceive since their respective moves to Old Trafford, with the pair registering just five goals combined in the league this season.
Sporting are said to be open to the prospect of cashing in on Gyokeres in the summer and could be open to a deal in the region of €70million (£58m).
However, according to The Athletic, United are not expected to be one of the frontrunners for the 26-year-old’s signature in the summer.
Gyokeres is said to prefer a move to a Champions League side which United are unlikely to acheive unless they win the Europa League.
Even if United qualify for Europe’s premier club competition, other more appealing clubs are expected to make moves to sign Gyokeres.
The report also adds that United have reservations about Gyokeres’ age and would prefer to recruit younger players as they did with the signing of 20-year-old full-back Patrick Dorgu in January.
Speaking earlier in the year, Gyokeres admitted that he was prioritising a move to one of the ‘best teams in Europe’ should he move clubs in the near future.
‘There are many rumours circulating, but we are in the middle of the season and there are still many months left,’ Gyokeres told Marca in December.
‘We will see when the time comes what will happen.’
Asked where he sees himself playing at the age of 30, Gyokeres replied: ‘Playing for one of the best teams in Europe. That is the objective.’
Should United fail in their pursuit for Gyokeres, the club will consider alternatives to help resolve their goalscoring woes.
Benjamin Sesko, 21, is seen as a potential option given his age, although the RB Leipzig stirker is also being targetted by Arsenal.
Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap has also been mentioned, while the club have sent scouts to watch Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo.
Speaking earlier in the week, Ian Wright urged the Red Devils to pursue a deal for Delap who has scored nine goals in his maiden season in the English top flight.
‘Go and get Delap,’ the former Arsenal striker on the most recent episode of Wrighty’s House when addressing United’s striking woes.
‘The thing is he’s got that hunger and disrespect for everybody and it just feels like the kind of player they need.
‘They need a hero like that and he’s a hero waiting to happen. He’s hungry.’
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