Manchester United have four striker’s on their shortlist ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Red Devils have struggled in front of goal this year and netted just 37 times in 29 Premier League outings, leaving them in 13th position. The club’s win over Leicester at the weekend saw Rasmus Hojlund score to end a 21-match streak without finding the net.
A new centre-forward has long been touted to be on the agenda following Ruben Amorim’s arrival. With limited funds available in January, United only saw Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven arrive however, after significant spending last summer.
Despite the club’s financial difficulties, it seems there is some willing to support Amorim in the forward position, with no option appearing cheap. Reports suggest Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and on-loan Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen are all under consideration in addition to Sporting CP ace Viktor Gyokeres.
Gyokeres may draw particular interest given he has already worked with Amorim. The Portuguese coach partnered with the Swede to earn a league title for Sporting last term as the forward plundered goals.
The former Coventry star has continued to find the net at an impressive rate and bagged 40 goals and 10 assists in 41 appearances this term, averaging more than a goal a game in Liga Portugal. Sporting’s president Frederico Varandas has already played it coy over a possible summer exit.
Speaking in February, he said: “Gyokeres was leaving in the summer, a year ago, a year and a half ago… Gyokeres was going to leave, anyway. We were champions and he was already leaving.”
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He added: “In January it was impossible and it remained so. I’m not going to add to it, it’s already very media-driven and it’s not worth talking about the summer market.”
However, A Bola claim Gyokeres interest would lie away from Old Trafford. The 26-year-old is said to prefer a transfer to rivals Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester City aheead of an ‘inevitable’ summer exit.
United co-owner has offered caution in how the club will build a squad for head coach Amorim. While critiquing the Red Devils’ recent business, the INEOS chief last week suggested it would take time to build a more prudent team.
“Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid,” he said. “But for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time. We’ve got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.
“There are some great players in the squad as we know, the captain is a fabulous footballer. We definitely need Bruno (Fernandes), he’s a fantastic footballer.”
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