Manchester United’s opening game of the season just got even more interesting with Viktor Gyokeres now involved.
There are 34 days to go until Manchester United face Arsenal on the opening weekend of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Ruben Amorim has the toughest start to the season of any manager, so he’ll be desperate to hit the ground running by beating the Gunners at Old Trafford.
BREAKING: Arsenal are close to agreeing a deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon 🔴
They have agreed to pay a fixed fee of around £55m for the striker 💰 pic.twitter.com/RQZpaustjJ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 13, 2025
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But if facing Mikel Arteta’s side wasn’t already a big challenge, the North London side have splashed hundreds of millions on new signings already, and Viktor Gyokeres is their latest addition.
Sporting Clube de Portugal v LOSC Lille - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim knows how to beat Viktor Gyokeres
Gyokeres was open to reuniting with Amorim this summer had the Arsenal deal collapsed, but the London side were able to offer European football where United couldn’t.
During their time together at Sporting, Gyokeres scored 66 goals in 68 games under Amorim, but now his task will be to score against his United side next month.
Amorim is a huge admirer of Gyokeres and his abilities up front – he will know exactly what to expect from the Swede when he visits the Theatre of Dreams.
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But that could also work in United’s favour as Amorim will know where Gyokeres struggles, and he will be aiming to keep him quiet on what will be his Premier League debut.
It has previously been suggested that Gyokeres’ weak point is his heading, which is something Amorim could look to exploit.
United struggled from set pieces last season, but improved towards the end of the season. Amorim has wanted more physicality in his side, and he will be sure to have players tightly mark Gyokeres next season to starve him of space.
Ruben Amorim will need a new striker of his own
It has always felt this summer that Gyokeres would either be joining Arsenal or United, and now he has made up his mind.
It will be a frustrating blow for Ineos and Amorim, who would have wanted Gyokeres to complete a new-look front three at United.
But now it is down to Ineos to move on from Gyokeres and make sure Amorim isn’t left empty-handed for the start of the new season.
READ MORE: Man United fans are stunned by £31m star’s transformation in pre-season training, ‘Amorim changed him’
Matheus Cunha is already impressing in training following his £62.5m move, and United remain confident about Bryan Mbeumo joining this summer.
But a new centre-forward is also a top priority. Ideally, Arsenal will not be the only time debuting a new star striker on the opening weekend of the Premier League calendar.