Alexander Isak of Newcastle United looks on
Teddy Sheringham believes Newcastle striker Alexander Isak should be a transfer target for Manchester United
Teddy Sheringham believes Manchester United should look to sign Arsenal-linked Newcastle striker Alexander Isak over Viktor Gyokeres. The Reds have been heavily linked with Gyokeres as they look to solve their goalscoring issues under Ruben Amorim, who managed the Swedish striker at Sporting.
Gyokeres has scored a staggering 34 goals across all competitions this season, with his performances also said to be attracting interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. In comparison, United's current two strikers, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, have netted just 12 goals between them so far in 2024/25.
However, reports on Thursday have claimed that it is now generally accepted that United are unlikely to secure the forward's signature in the summer. Reports suggest that Gyokeres is looking to join a Champions League club at the end of the season, a status the Reds currently seem unlikely to achieve. Meanwhile, his potential £80million price tag is said to have put off United.
And Sherringham has suggested an alternative option to Gyokeres, sharing his belief that Isak should be targeted. The former Reds striker acknowledges, however, that other clubs are currently in a better position to sign him whilst also ruing them not getting Harry Kane and Declan Rice.
"The problems all started two years ago when they didn't make a bid for Harry Kane, the best available centre forward, the leader of football, and a professional at the top of his game. That's what Man United used to do," he said via finaria.it.
"They've set their stall out since then and said, look, we're not going for top players. They weren't in for Declan Rice, who would have run the midfield. He's going for 100 million. That's what Man United used to do: they broke the bank and got the top players in.
"So, you're asking me now, two years later, when it should have been dealt with two years ago. Is Harry Kane the right man now? Probably not. I know he's still scoring goals for Bayern Munich, but I don't know if it would have the same impression on everybody if they were to get him now.
"United need to start going for younger guns, but I mean, who's out there? Would Isak come away from Newcastle to go to Man United at the moment? You'd like to think he would, being a Man United fan, but I'm not so sure he would, so the further they fall down the pecking order, the less chance they've got of signing top players."
When asked whether Gyokeres could cut it in the Premier League, Sheringham expressed doubts. He added: "A goal scorer is a goal scorer. He's got to come across, he's got to get used to the pace of the Premier League. You know, it's a risk. I don't know how much they'd have to pay for him; 70-80 million plus.
"You know, you start paying 80 million and upwards for a foreign centre forward that's only really done it in the Portuguese league and the Championship. There’s a big difference in the level. Manchester United haven't got time to be able to bed in players. I know he knows the manager so it will help, but if he's still not going to get the service, what's his confidence going to be like as well? It's all about how you're going to play.
"If you're going to feed the centre forwards, then break the bank and get someone in that can score the goals but if you're not going to feed him then your problems are there."
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