Sporting Lisbon are maintaining a confident stance that Viktor Gyokeres will stay with the club through the January transfer window, despite growing interest from major clubs like Manchester United.
In an update, football insider Fabrizio Romano has shared insights into United’s potential pursuit of the prolific striker and the surprisingly reasonable fee that could secure his services after the season ends.
Manchester United are about to embark on a significant new chapter with Ruben Amorim set to take over as their new manager. The 39-year-old, known for his successful stint at Sporting, becomes the sixth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013. With a lot to prove, Amorim’s first task will be revitalizing a struggling United squad and restoring the club’s stature in both domestic and European competitions.
Amorim’s arrival has already sparked speculation about potential signings, especially from his former club. One name that’s stirring excitement among fans is Viktor Gyokeres, the Swedish striker who recently stunned with a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League. This season, Gyokeres has amassed an impressive 23 goals in just 17 appearances, making him one of Europe’s hottest attacking prospects.
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However, Romano has indicated that a mid-season move for Gyokeres is unlikely. He explains that Amorim is cautious about maintaining a positive relationship with Sporting and their fans. “Sporting’s feeling is that Viktor Gyokeres will complete the season with them and then explore his future options in the summer of 2025,” Romano shared on his YouTube channel. He emphasized that Amorim is not planning a January move, which would create potential friction with his former club.
Despite Amorim’s current stance, Romano hinted that the situation could shift after the season concludes. “Come summer, things could be entirely different. There are already many clubs showing interest in Gyokeres,” Romano noted. While he refrained from naming all the interested teams, he promised to reveal more as talks become more concrete, confirming that behind-the-scenes discussions are already taking place.
Many see Amorim’s reluctance to push for a January move as strategic. If United wait until the summer, they could secure Gyokeres at a more favorable price. Reports earlier in the week revealed that a summer transfer for the Swedish striker would likely cost around £63m (€75m, $81m), a figure Sporting is more willing to entertain after the season concludes.
United’s potential move for Gyokeres has also caught the attention of former club legends like Rio Ferdinand and Dimitar Berbatov. Speaking on Monday Night Football, Berbatov shared why he thinks Amorim might push for a reunion with the striker at Old Trafford. “I think there’s a special connection between the coach and the player, so we might just see him in a United shirt,” Berbatov said.
When asked if Gyokeres would be a good fit for United, Berbatov was direct. “Based on what he’s showing right now, absolutely. Our strikers aren’t producing enough; we’re ranked 18th in the league for goals scored, which is embarrassing for a club of United’s stature,” he remarked. The former United forward believes that bringing in a clinical finisher like Gyokeres could be key to revitalizing their attack.
It’s clear that a move for Gyokeres would align with Amorim’s vision of reshaping United’s offensive capabilities. With the club facing a goal-scoring crisis and the prospect of a transformative signing on the horizon, the summer of 2025 could mark a pivotal moment for Manchester United. For now, Sporting’s confidence in holding onto their star remains steadfast, but the interest from Old Trafford promises an intriguing battle ahead.
