Viktor Gyokeres became a prolific striker in the Championship.placeholder image
Viktor Gyokeres became a prolific striker in the Championship. | AFP via Getty Images
Manchester United’s hopes of signing Viktor Gyokeres look all-but over with the Sporting CP ace closing in on a move to Arsenal
Manchester United target Viktor Gyokeres is “getting closer” to a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal with the Red Devils now turning their focus to other targets.
Manchester World understands that United had made Liam Delap their top target for the striker position ahead of the summer. He is a homegrown player and cost just £30m but he has made the move to Chelsea.
Gyokeres was also a player of interest but the financials of the deal always made it a difficult one and the Red Devils have not been able to move forward with a possible deal as they need to sanction a number of player exits to raise funds for further signings.
Now the Sporting CP ace is closing in on a move to Arsenal, who play United on the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.
Fabrizio Romano has reported: “Arsenal are now getting closer to signing Viktor Gyökeres after new round of talks in recent hours. Gyökeres will not return for training at Sporting as he’s fully focused on leaving the club; Arsenal are now advancing. Nothing done yet but discussions underway.”
Man Utd interested in move for Luis Suarez
With United missing out on another striker target, a new name has emerged as a possible addition. According to A Bola in Portugal, the Red Devils are one of several clubs who have Almeria forward Luis Suarez on their radar.
Sunderland, Juventus , Atlético de Madrid and Liverpool have also been linked while Sporting CP are the only club so far to express an interest to Almeria. Sporting will need a replacement for Gyokeres.
The Colombian turns 28 in December and is entering his peak years. Suarez currently plays the Segunda Division, Spain’s second tier. Across all competitions last season, he scored an impressive 31 goals and provided eight assists. Almeria finished sixth in the division, with Suarez netting 27 league goals.
Almeria have set his transfer price at around €25 million (£21.5m). This is reportedly viewed as too high a price for Sporting to meet but ‘everything should be resolved’ once the future of Gyokeres is confirmed.
Who else are Man Utd interested in?
United have other striker targets in mind, including Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt. Reports last week revealed a swap deal between United and Villa had been mooted, with Watkins heading to Old Trafford and Marcus Rashford going the other way.
However, Rashford was against that move as he is said to be holding out for a switch to Barcelona. Ekitike is also linked with Liverpool and has a release clause of £85m. It is unlikely he will cost that much, with Frankfurt willing to accept £59m from Manchester City for Omar Marmoush back in January. Suarez could prove a cheaper alternative that both Watkins and Ekitike but moving from the Spanish second tier to the Premier League would be a significant step up and the Red Devils may be unwilling to take that risk.
Continue Reading