Manchester United’s dream of qualifying for the Champions League was crushed when they lost the Europa League final in Bilbao.
The Red Devils had a shocking domestic campaign. They finished 15th in the Premier League table after losing 18 of their 38 games.
Tottenham Hotspur had an even worse campaign in the league than Manchester United, but in the Europa League final, they came out on top.
Spurs will play in the Champions League in the upcoming season, as a result, while Ruben Amorim’s side will not play in any European competition.
That is the reason why they are finding it difficult to sign one player.
Viktor Gyokeres is a wanted man.
The Swede has been one of the most prolific strikers in the world over the last two seasons, and he is almost guaranteed to leave Sporting CP this summer.
Arsenal have been linked with Gyokeres – Andrea Berta is said to be a big fan of the 27-year-old. But, they aren’t the only side.
Manchester United have wanted to sign Gyokeres for a long time, and Amorim, who has worked with him before, has made him his top striker target.
However, United’s financial situation could complicate a potential deal for the Swedish striker, who is available for £55 million (Romano). That is mainly down to lack of Champions League football.
If they had won the Europa League, Romano is almost certain that Gyokeres would’ve been a Manchester United player by now.
The journalist said in a video on his YouTube channel: “Viktor Gyokeres remains the other option on the table for Arsenal, but as it’s now two-three weeks that Arsenal are not advancing on the Gyokeres deal, all the other clubs keep calling his agents.
“That’s what happened in the last 48 hours. From what I heard, Man United, last week, had new contacts with Viktor Gyokeres’ camp to be informed on the situation. Something like ‘If Arsenal are not doing the deal, we are still there, we are still interested’.
“Then, for Man United, we have to see financially, how they can make it happen. Because, with Champions League football, I’m 99 per cent convinced that they were going to close the Gyokeres deal quite quickly. That was the feeling.
“Then, no Champions League football, they lost the final in Bilbao. It’s more complicated financially.”
Arsenal could make it easier for Man United to sign Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal are arguably the biggest challengers for Manchester United in the race to sign Gyokeres.
Both clubs are in desperate need of a new striker. The Gunners haven’t had a prolific centre-forward since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the club.
If Arsenal, with their ability to offer Champions League football, push to sign Gyokeres, there is a very high chance that they will win the race.
However, the priority for the Gunners right now is Benjamin Sesko, and if Berta signs the RB Leipzig star, United could get a free run at Gyokeres.
That would make it less challenging for Amorim to get his man.