Sporting Lisbon have identified a striker to replace Viktor Gyokeres, with Arsenal and Manchester United both keen on signing the Sweden international
Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United
(Image: Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images))
Sporting Lisbon are reportedly preparing for life after Viktor Gyokeres, with Almeria's Luis Javier Suarez being eyed as a potential replacement. Gyokeres, who is said to be on Manchester United's radar, netted over 50 goals last season, leading his team to the title and attracting interest from several clubs for a high-profile summer transfer.
Arsenal are set to rival United for his signature having been heavily linked with securing his services. Despite Sporting's efforts to retain their star player, Gyokeres has expressed his desire to move on.
Reports from Europe [via the Mirror] suggest that Suarez is now the top choice to fill the void left by Gyokeres in the attacking line-up for the 2025-26 season. Sporting taking the step to bring in a replacement would hint that Gyokeres could finally be on his way out - although he still faces a decision himself over which club to join before the start of the new season.
Sporting have a proven track record of nurturing talent, with many of their signings later moving on for substantial profits. Suarez, a Colombian international, currently plays in Spain's second division and scored 31 goals last season.
Reports indicate that Sporting were prepared to let Gyokeres go for around £65million, which is less than his release clause. However, disagreements between the player and club management over the asking price have complicated his departure.
Frederico Varandas, the club president, firmly stated there was never any understanding regarding Viktor Gyokeres' potential departure: "I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that. To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres - neither today nor last season."
Gyokeres' standout performances at Coventry sparked the interest of Ruben Amorim, who managed Sporting to significant success after signing the Swede from the Championship club.
Now, United are reportedly interested in reuniting the pair, as Amorim seeks to inject more goalscoring prowess into his squad. Nonetheless, their absence from the Champions League may hinder their pursuit, as Gyokeres weighs up his future, with a preference for Arsenal reportedly emerging amidst these deliberations.
The Swedish footballer isn't unfamiliar with the English game, having previously spent time at Brighton, Swansea and Coventry.
Get United transfer news and updates on WhatsApp!
Our team of Manchester United experts are on top of all the goings-on at Old Trafford for this week and beyond, and you can get the latest team news, injury updates, reaction and analysis along with inside information to your phone by joining our new free WhatsApp community. You can also join the 50,000 (and growing!) band of United fans who are following our WhatsApp Channel.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are 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 would 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.