Man United backed Ruben Amorim in the summer transfer window and that faith is starting to be vindicated.
Ruben Amorim celebrates after Manchester United beat Brighton
Ruben Amorim celebrates after Manchester United beat Brighton(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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As soon as it was clear that Ruben Amorim would be arriving at Manchester United, one of the first questions asked was whether he would bring any Sporting players with him. Viktor Gyokeres was the player mentioned the most.
"If I start joking about this Gyokeres situation I’ll get in trouble," Amorim told reporters in Lisbon. "This is my city, this is my country, so I’ll respect it.
"Viktor has to stay until the end of the season and then his life will probably go somewhere else." That prediction proved to be spot on.
Gyokeres did stay until the end of the season and, after a drawn-out process, moved on to Arsenal.
In April, Amorim conceded that he did not want to sign players who solely joined United in the hope of one day playing in the Champions League, a competition Gyokeres was understood to be keen to continue playing in.
Viktor Gyokeres has struggled since signing for Arsenal in the summer transfer window
Viktor Gyokeres has struggled since signing for Arsenal in the summer transfer window
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Too often, United have missed out on players and then seen them work their magic elsewhere. On this occasion, the Reds may have dodged a transfer bullet.
Arsenal may be sitting top of the tree, but there is frustration growing around Gyokeres' performances for the club. Five goals in 13 appearances isn't a dreadful return, but Arsenal would perhaps have expected more given his record of 97 goals in 102 matches for Sporting.
The Swede has not scored in the Premier League since the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in September, and his stats this season don't suggest a prolific striker when penalty goals are discounted.
His conversion rate is 11.11% and his xG of 2.9 over nine Premier League appearances is equivalent to the number recorded by Bryan Mbeumo. While Mbeumo's job is to create as much as it is to score goals, Gyokeres was supposed to be the prolific goalscorer Arsenal have been looking for.
United striker Benjamin Sesko's statistics are very similar to the Arsenal frontman's. He has two goals but in ten appearances, with plenty coming off the bench as he returned to full match sharpness. His conversion rate of 13.33% is higher than Gyokeres' and while his xG is only 1.81, he has been playing in a side who, up until recently, were struggling.
At 22, Sesko is five years younger than Gyokeres and therefore has much more time to develop. Yes, he may have cost more than Arsenal paid for Gyokeres, but the Slovenian is showing signs of progress while Gyokeres is already under pressure.
United fans might have been desperate for the club to sign Gyokeres but they might have made the correct call with Sesko.
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