Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres is not expected to join Manchester United this summer
Manchester United are set to pivot to Benjamin Sesko or Liam Delap in the summer with a deal for Viktor Gyokeres now thought to be out of reach.
The Red Devils are expected to dip into the transfer market for a new striker with both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee - a summer buy from Bologna - struggling for goals this season.
With Ruben Amorim now at the helm, a move for Gyokeres, who flourished under the Portuguese coach at Sporting Lisbon, seemed a formality - but a reunion at Old Trafford now looks unlikely.
The Sweden international is expected to leave Sporting this summer, with the club ready to cash in on their star forward. However, The Athletic outline that Gyokeres wants to join a club who can offer him Champions League football next year.
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While United could yet qualify by winning the Europa League, there are other mitigating factors, too. Sporting are like to command a fee of around €70million (£58.2m) for Gyokeres, which United would be reluctant to lay down for a player who will turn 27 in June.
A focus on younger targets is likely to see Sesko and Delap come into play, with the former a long-term target. The club even tried to lure him away from RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window, only for the Slovenia international to sign a new deal.
Arsenal are also known to be admirers of Sesko and their interest - plus Leipzig's demands for the 21-year-old - could complicate a potential deal for the striker, whose style of play would be a good fit for Amorim's tactics.
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Liam Delap celebrates after scoring for Ipswich Town against Aston Villa
United could move for Liam Delap or Benjamin Sesko in the summer
A move for Delap, who has enjoyed a fine season with Ipswich Town after winning promotion from the Championship last year, could also fit the bill.
The 22-year-old has nine Premier League goals to his name and suits the profile Amorim is after. He has been tracked by United this season and, crucially, is known by technical director Jason Wilcox from his Manchester City days.
Intriguingly, Premier League goalscoring icon Ian Wright recently urged United to make a move for Delap on his podcast, Wrighty's House. He said: "Go and get Delap. 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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