Incoming Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana looks to have a big job ahead of him when he steps into his role at the club. It does appear that a rebuild is coming to City’s all-conquering squad. Viana will be at the helm once Txiki Begiristain steps aside following the FIFA Club World Cup next summer.
Now a new report suggests that Hugo Viana may already be hard at work at securing one of the most in-demand strikers for Manchester City from his current club, Sporting CP. If that report is correct it appears that Viana is already planning the rebuild of the world champions squad.
Florian Plettenberg has [reported via X](https://x.com/Plettigoal/status/1863678107837972551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1863678107837972551%7Ctwgr%5E581f34259ea3c5c8d3a8c9319a9a8b64e3db5178%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-4201620481909896870.ampproject.net%2F2410292120000%2Fframe.html) that Hugo Viana is determined to bring Viktor Gyökeres to the Etihad. Furthermore, Plettenberg reports that Manchester City have intensified their efforts in recent days to sign Gyökeres. Plettenberg further reports that Manchester United have also now begun talks to sign the Swedish international. Lastly, Plettenberg adds that United would have to sell players to facilitate any move for Gyökeres.
#### It appears that Hugo Viana is getting a head start on the task that lies ahead of him.
Based on Plettenberg’s report, it appears that Hugo Viana is getting a head start on the work that awaits him. A look at the current Manchester City squad does show that a rebuild is coming for the world champions next summer. They have squeezed all they can out of their senior players, and as sad as it will be, the time is coming when a host of them will be moved on. That process is likely to begin at the end of the season.
There are several areas where the City squad needs improvement. The striker position is one. As it stands Erling Haaland is City’s only recognised striker. The need to find support for the Norwegian international is well documented. Based on Plettenberg’s report it appears that Viana has one of the hottest strikers in Europe as the player he sees who could fill that void. There [is a case](https://esteemedkompany.com/2024/10/25/is-a-swedish-striker-being-lined-up-by-manchester-city-to-provide-support-for-erling-haaland/) in which Gyökeres and Haaland could play together. The Swedish international would need assurances that he would play regularly if were to sign for Manchester City. That appears obvious. But City’s reported interest in Gyökeres is now a story to monitor based on Florian Plettenberg’s report.
But it does seem based on Plettenberg’s report that Hugo Viana is already hard at work for Manchester City. Based on his reported interest in Gyökeres it does appear that he is aiming to bring top quality players to the Etihad to facilitate City’s rebuild.