Manchester City are appointing a new director of football this summer in Hugo Viana. Already, the Sporting CP chief is plotting an upset on his former comrade, and Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
Both Manchester City and Manchester United have big summers ahead, with both having endured rather torrid 2024/25 seasons so far. United more so than City with the Red Devils poised for their worst-ever Premier League finish.
They sit in 13th place of the Premier League table and are 11 points behind City. Pep Guardiola’s side drew 2-2 with Brighton last time out, with the Seagulls coming from behind twice to retain a sour taste for the Cityzens.
It’s now just one win in their last four Premier League games for City who are one point behind Chelsea in 4th, but 22 behind leaders Liverpool, and only four ahead of Brentford down in 11th.
The season could yet have more twists and turns for City, and for United too. And the summer might already harbour a potentially fierce transfer battle between the two fierce rivals of English football.
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
Sporting CP plot new Trincao contract as Man City and Man United take aim
One name linked with both Manchester clubs ahead of the summer is Sporting CP winger Trincao. The 25-year-old has eight goals and 11 assists in 26 Liga Portugal games already this season, and there’s a concrete connection between him an both City and United: City because of Hugo Viana and United because of former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim.
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In fact, Viana is still the director of football at Sporting. But his club are planning a new contract for Trincao, as per Portuguese outlet A Bola, in a bid to fend off the likes of City and United who A Bola appear to mention as the two most interested parties right now. Trincao was brought to Sporting in 2023 by Amorim and Viana.
Viana will arrive at the Etihad this summer and assume the role of director of football, as Manchester City plan a summer overhaul to the playing squad.
Photo by Jan Kruger - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Photo by Jan Kruger – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Hugo Viana also wants Viktor Gyokeres at Manchester City
Another player who could be at the centre of a Manchester transfer battle this summer is Sporting CP hitman Viktor Gyokeres, who’s scored an incredible 83 goals in 91 total games for Sporting following his 2023 move from Coventry City.
Earlier in the season, it was claimed that Viana wants to bring Gyokeres with him to Man City this summer, though the Swede has had links to Old Trafford all season long, as well as links to several other Premier League and top European clubs.
But Guardiola and Viana may be more inclined to focus on signing a star winger instead. The Cityzens still have Erling Haaland scoring and proving the goods and so another marquee striker signing might not be in their best interest.
City return to action against Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-final later in the month.