Viktor Gyokeres remains on MUFC’s radar. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Manchester United’s pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres is ongoing despite the first phrase of the transfer window coming to a close yesterday.
After missing out on first-choice No.9 target Liam Delap, the Red Devils had set their sights on a move for a more experienced and proven goalscorer in the form of Gyokeres.
Talks have been held with the player’s representatives in recent weeks, with United said to be calling almost every day to gauge the prospect of a deal getting over the line this summer.
Why is Viktor Gyokeres struggling to find an adequate suitor?
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring for Sporting against Man City.
(Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
However, you have to question why there have been little to no developments regarding Gyokeres’ prospective switch to Old Trafford.
Heading into the transfer window, it was expected that the forward would be one of the major sagas following a scintillating campaign with Sporting Lisbon, which saw him net 54 goals in 52 games across all competitions.
Numerous clubs are thought to be on the lookout for a clinical centre-forward, so the fact Gyokeres is available for a cut-price fee of £51 million would surely make him one of the hottest candidates, right?
Yet, as the weeks have passed, he has only been reliably linked with the likes of Arsenal and United, with the former prioritising the signing of 22-year-old Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. This has seemingly prompted Gyokeres to reconsider his stance on whether Champions League football is essential, hence entertaining conversations with United.
Gyokeres would’ve likely already signed for United had they won UEL
From Fabrizio Romano’s point of view, he’s adamant that the former Coventry City star would’ve been straight on the plane to Manchester to reunite with Ruben Amorim had his side secured UCL qualification. Of course, their lacklustre defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final last month prevented such from being the case.
“For Man United, we have to see financially how they can make it happen,”said Romano of United’s Gyokeres interest.“With Champions League football, I’m 99% convinced that they were going to close the [Viktor] Gyokeres deal quite quickly.
“I think that was the feeling. Then no Champions League football. They lost the final in Bilbao, and so it’s more complicated financially.
“But for Viktor Gyokeres, Man United called again, so let’s see if they will be able to make it happen. But there were new contacts with the agents of the player.”
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