Viktor Gyokeres could be on the move
Viktor Gyokeres could be on the move
Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres is a man in demand, and little wonder when you consider his goalscoring record.
Since making the move to Sporting from Coventry in 2023, Gyokeres has plundered 97 goals in 102 games for the Portuguese heavyweights, including six in eight games in the 2024/25 Champions League.
Gyokeres's route to the wishlist of some of Europe's top sides has been anything but conventional. Just two years ago he was plying his trade in England's second tier having failed to make a single league appearance in three years at Brighton. He was loaned out numerous times during his spell with the Seagulls, including a season in the second tier of German football and a dire stint at Swansea that saw him fail to score in 11 league outings.
There's something to be admired in Gyokeres' ascent, and with so many top teams on the hunt for a new No.9 this summer it would be a shock to see him playing in the Primeira Liga next season. But Sporting certainly won't be letting him leave on the cheap.
Club president Frederico Varandas addressed the speculation surrounding his star man this week, insisting he would not be allowed to leave for the €70million (£59.5m) fee that's been bandied about in recent weeks. And that could be an issue should Manchester United look to pursue Gyokeres.
After years of being taken for a ride in the transfer market and paying well over the odds, United are keen to make 'the United tax' a thing of the past.
Manchester City's hit rate in the market has to be admired, and so United looking to adopt their stance of rarely paying over £60m for players makes a lot of sense. It must be added that the club have already sanctioned a £62.5m deal for Matheus Cunha this summer after triggering his release clause, though the deal made a lot of sense given his Premier League record and suitability for Ruben Amorim's system.
If United make a move for Gyokeres this summer they're almost certainly going to break their £60m transfer rule. After finishing 15th in the Premier League with a -10 goal difference and no European football to look forward to next season, this is no normal summer and rules may need to be broken.
If United can raise the necessary funds through player sales then they should be doing all they can to sign one of Europe's most in-demand strikers.
---
Here at the Manchester Evening News, we're dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.
And finally, if you'd rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast, featuring The Samuel Luckhurst Show and The Midweek Debate. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.