Manchester United are advancing in their hunt for a new striker, and it seems Ruben Amorim’s Sporting CP protégé, Viktor Gyokeres, is the chosen one.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Red Devils called his agent again to understand the striker’s situation.
Arsenal, who were in pole position, seem to have moved on to Benjamin Sesko, thereby allowing the 20-time English league champions time to pounce.
“What I heard, Man United, last week, had new contacts with Viktor Gyökeres’ camp to be informed on the situation,” Romano explained on his YouTube channel. “Something like, ‘okay, if Arsenal are not doing the deal, we are still there, we are still interested.”
United had contact with Gyokeres’ camp
Interestingly, the journalist also claimed that the Red Devils were guaranteed to sign the Swede had they won the Europa League final. But now, sorting out their financials will be key for a deal to materialise.
This essentially means player sales are needed for United to be able to afford the 27-year-old, who would cost around €70 million this summer.
“Then, for Man United, we have to see financially how they can make it happen, because with Champions League football, I’m 99% convinced that they were going to close the Gyökeres deal quite quick. I think that was the feeling.
“Then, no Champions League football, they lost the [Europa League] final in Bilbao, and so it’s more complicated financially. But, for Viktor Gyökeres, 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.”
New meetings took place
This tallies with what Sky have also reported, with United in touch with the the Portuguese club through intermediaries.
All in all, these reports seem to point towards the Sweden international being United’s top choice to replace Rasmus Hojlund up front, who is most likely Inter Milan-bound.
Romano also revealed that Juventus are also interested in the Sporting striker while Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia are also lurking.
It will be interesting to see where Gyokeres lands up eventually. United fans will be hoping he is coming to Old Trafford, but United are also monitoring Victor Osimhen should things not pan out with Viktor Gyokeres.
