MX23RW : Thursday, November 7 16:45:33| >> :120:5343:5343:

Manchester United 'keen to sign Viktor Gyokeres this summer'

Man United 'keen to sign Viktor Gyokeres this summer'
© Reuters
Manchester United plan to move for Sporting Lisbon attacker Viktor Gyokeres during this summer's transfer window, according to a report.

Manchester United are reportedly planning to move for Sporting Lisbon attacker Viktor Gyokeres when this summer's transfer window opens for business.

The 25-year-old made the move to Sporting from Coventry City last July, and he has been in impressive form for his Portuguese club this season, scoring 29 goals and registering 11 assists in 32 appearances.

Gyokeres penned a five-year deal with the Green and Whites upon his arrival, but there is believed to be a €100m (£85.5m) release clause in his contract.

Chelsea were heavily linked with the striker earlier this year and are still believed to be keen on his services ahead of the opening of the summer market.

According to Fichajes, there is also now serious interest from Man United, with the club planning to make a move for him at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Sweden's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their third goal with Mattias Svanberg on March 27, 2023© Reuters

The Red Devils will sign a new striker this summer to provide support for Rasmus Hojlund next term, with Anthony Martial set to leave on a free transfer.

Man United boss Erik ten Hag said on Friday that he wanted to sign a new striker in January when he was told that Martial would be missing until at least the end of March, but the rules surrounding Financial Fair Play meant that a deal was not possible.

"When I got the news about Anthony Martial, at the start of January, I really tried to get another striker in because, yeah, we are vulnerable there," said the manager.

"But FFP was the thing. We couldn't do it. And so yeah we worked out other options how to fill this in and how to deal with the moment Rasmus Hojlund wouldn't be available. And there are, and we have, options in our squad to fill it in.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts on February 18, 2024© Reuters

"So first of all, the striker options are most difficult to fill this in and especially on our level. We had two strikers and I get that on Martial but he had done for us, last season, great things. So he is also on high payment in this club.

"And so, yeah, when you bring another one in, you strike him out. And so all the arguments were not to do it [sign two strikers]. And then we have Marcus Rashford, also a player who can play very good from that position. So we have actually had three strikers in our squad to fill in."

Hojlund is facing a spell out with a muscular problem which he suffered in training, so Rashford is likely to operate through the middle in his absence.

Gyokeres initially made the move to English football with Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018, but he only managed one goal in eight appearances for the Seagulls during a disappointing spell.

The forward starred for Coventry ahead of his move to Sporting, though, scoring 40 times in 97 appearances for the club during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns after a loan spell in 2020-21.

ID:537489:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4976:

Click here for more stories about Erik ten Hag

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 1, 2024
Read Next:
Ratcliffe 'not prepared to discuss summer exit for Rashford'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!