The situation between Sporting CP and Viktor Gyokeres involving Arsenal is the reason why Manchester United made the right call. Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign Gyokeres, but Sporting have an uncompromising stance on his price valuation.
Meanwhile, United prioritised the attacking department as the first thing they want to improve under Ruben Amorim before next season. The Red Devils signed Matheus Cunha from Wolves and are closing in on a deal to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Man United need a number nine to complete their attacking department under the 3-4-2-1 formation after they complete Mbeumo’s signing. Amorim has Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee as his number nine options, but both players have delivered underwhelming performances consistently.
The toxic situation involving Sporting CP and Viktor Gyokeres proves that Manchester United were right to reject the forward.
United had a shortlist of strikers this summer that included Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins among many other forwards, including Gyokeres. We All Follow United recently covered how United rejected Gyokeres due to Sporting CP overpricing him at a £68.3m fee.
According to ESPN, Arsenal are struggling to sign Gyokeres due to a toxic situation between him and Sporting CP, highlighting the reason why United separated themselves from the ongoing chaos. Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas (via Portuguese news agency Lusa) highlighted his stance in the ongoing saga involving Gyokeres. He said:
“We’re calm. Everything can be solved with the closure of the market, a hefty fine and an apology to the group. If they don’t want to pay Viktor’s fair market value, we’ll be very comfortable with that for the next three years. If the geniuses who are devising this strategy think that this puts pressure on me to make it easier for him to leave, not only are they completely wrong, but they are also making it more complicated for the player to leave. No one is above the interests of the club. Whoever they are.”
The Red Devils cannot afford to waste their time in such a situation, dealing with uncompromising people like Varandas. However, the transfer market is lacking a decent striker under a respectable price tag, leaving less room to operate.
United need to maintain calmness and sort out other areas of the team, instead of dwelling in one position. Rest assured, the Red Devils are finally operating with more caution and astute decision-making, unlike the recent past.
United have many surplus players in the squad, and most of these players were signed for an inflated price tag. The club’s inability to step away from unrealistic demands caused the financial issue they are facing right now. It is good that the club has learnt from their mistakes and are operating differently this summer.