This summer is a huge opportunity for Ruben Amorim to make the changes he wants to his Manchester United first-team squad, allowing for the best possible chance of success in his first full year at the helm.
During the January transfer window, the 40-year-old only had a couple of weeks to make changes to the side, allowing numerous players to depart the North West on loan.
Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia and Anthony all departed the club for various temporary stints away, with it unknown whether any of the trio have a future at Old Trafford.
marcus-rashford-aston-villa
Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven were the first additions of the Amorim era, with the pair both already excelling in the first-team, showing signs of being worth their respective transfer fees.
Hopefully he can continue his excellent early start in the transfer market this summer, potentially returning for a deal to land a player who he’s previously managed.
Man Utd’s potential move to land Viktor Gyokeres this summer
The 2024/25 Premier League season is yet to reach its conclusion, but the transfer rumours are already starting to gather momentum ahead of the summer.
United have already been touted as a possible destination for striker Viktor Gyokeres, who previously featured under Amorim during his time as Sporting CP manager.
Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres
The Swedish international has been in phenomenal goalscoring form over the last couple of months, notching a total of 40 goals in 41 outings across all competitions this campaign.
Gyokeres has registered a total of 83 goals in 91 appearances for the Portuguese outfit and is rumoured to be available for around the £60m mark this summer.
However, the club may have made a mistake in allowing one player to depart the club, possessing similar characteristics to the former Coventry City ace - highlighting the wrong call in allowing him to depart.
The former United ace who’s been like Gyokeres in 2024/25
Former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær is responsible for numerous impressive pieces of business which has seen the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo move to the club.
Manchester-United-Ole-Gunnar-Solskjaer
The Norwegian led the club to a second-placed finish in 2020/21, coming within touching distance of claiming the first league title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure - offering stability which has often been lacking in Manchester.
However, the 52-year-old also made the call to part ways with Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku in the summer of 2019, ending his two-year stint in the North West.
The Red Devils forked out a staggering £75m for his signature in the summer of 2017, looking to transform the club’s front line and edge them closer to a top-flight triumph.
He managed to find the net 27 times in his first year, before scoring 15 in the following year, leaving in a £73m deal to join Inter Milan and ending his short stint in Manchester.
Romelu Lukaku for Manchester United
However, the “unplayable” talisman, as dubbed by pundit Alan Shearer, has consistently scored goals everywhere he’s been since his departure six years ago, notching double figures in every single season.
He’s now plying his trade for Napoli in Serie A, with FBref ranking him as a similar player to Gyokeres based off their respective numbers from the current season - with the comparison understandable when delving into their figures.
How Romelu Lukaku compares to Viktor Gyokeres in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)
Games played
Goals & assists
Shot-on-target accuracy
Times dispossessed
Aerials won
Aerial success rate
Take-on success
Stats via FBref
Lukaku may have registered fewer goals to date, but he’s managed to achieve a higher shot on target accuracy rate - showcasing that he’s been unlucky not to have more goals than he currently does.
He’s also won more aerials per 90, whilst losing possession fewer times per game, offering that all-round focal point which the side have been desperately missing.
There’s no denying that Gyokeres would be a phenomenal addition to the side, certainly handing them the goalscoring threat they’ve been after in recent years.
However, this whole scouting mission could’ve been saved had Solskjaer not parted ways with the Belgian six years ago, with his presence potentially helping the club fight at the top end once again.
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