Manchester City will officially welcome a new sporting director to the club in the summer.
Back in October, it was reported that City had agreed a deal for Hugo Viana to replace Txiki Begiristain as the Manchester club’s director of football at the end of the season.
City plucked Viana from Sporting CP, where he has been the Portuguese club’s sporting director since 2018.
Even though there are still some months to get through before Viana starts his new role at the Etihad Stadium on an official basis, some behind-the-scenes details have come to light regarding what the 41-year-old is currently working on for his new side in terms of a potential transfer deal.
Hugo Viana of Sporting CP before the start of the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting CP and KRC Genk at Estadio Algarve on July 19, 2023 in...
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
Hugo Viana pushing to scupper Man United’s transfer plans
In a recent post on his official X account, journalist Florian Plettenberg shared this update regarding Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres and the current transfer interest in him.
He said: “Manchester United have now made initial concrete talks regarding Viktor Gyokeres and a potential move in the summer. The Red Devils are now fully involved.
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“However, this will require sales first. Manchester City have also intensified their efforts in recent days. Hugo Viana is currently pushing hard in the pursuit of Gyokeres.”
🚨🔴 Manchester United have now made initial concrete talks regarding Viktor #Gyökeres and a potential move in the summer. The Red Devils are now fully involved. #MUFC
⚠️ However, this will require sales first!
Manchester City have also intensified their efforts in recent… pic.twitter.com/zS6BGPwAF4
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) December 2, 2024
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How much could Gyokeres cost City to sign?
This isn’t the first update Plettenberg has shared about the Sporting striker, as he reported back in October that there is an agreement in place that will allow Gyokeres to leave for a fee of €60m-€70m (£49m-£58m) in the summer.
Since joining the Portuguese club, the striker has bagged 67 goals in 71 appearances across all competitions, three of which were against City in the 4-1 win over Pep Guardiola’s side in the Champions League last month.
Viktor Gyokeres – 2024/25 Appearances Goals Assists
Liga Portugal 12 16 1
Champions League 5 5 0
Interestingly, former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rafael van der Vaart claimed that Gyokeres “is a better version” of Erling Haaland.
Taking into account how Viana was involved in the deal that saw Sporting take Gyokeres to the club back in 2023, this could give City an advantage in landing a summer transfer move for the 26-year-old.
With United now aiming to do the same thing, with former Sporting manager Ruben Amorim now in charge of the Red Devils, this could be a very interesting transfer battle involving the two Manchester club once the next summer window opens.
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