Manchester United have eyed up both Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres this summer with the Sporting Lisbon star now rejecting the chance to move to Old Trafford
Manchester United opened discussions with Victor Osimhen over a summer move to Old Trafford – only to find out shortly after that Viktor Gyokeres has rejected the opportunity to reunite with Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils are in the market for more firepower this summer and have several frontmen on their shortlist. Osimhen and Gyokeres have both been under consideration such has been their prolific nature in recent years.
Footmercato claimed the Premier League side have opened discussions with Osimhen, but were still expected to pursue the signing of Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon. Reports in Portugal now claim the Swede has turned down the chance to move to Manchester with his agents informing United chiefs of their decision.
Gyokeres is ready to pursue a new challenge and has threatened strike action to force through a move away. He said on Instagram: “There is a lot of talks at the moment, most of it is false. I will speak when the time is right.”
Last term the Swede, who has played in England with the likes of Coventry and Swansea, broke the 50 goal barrier in Portugal. Across his two seasons he’s come up with almost 100 goals.
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Osimhen meanwhile has just spent the year on loan in Turkey, helping Galatasaray claim the league title. He scored 37 times to further put himself in the shop window. Neither he nor Gyokeres will be sold on the cheap as Arsenal also eye the Sporting star.
Sporting president Frederico Varandas has said: “One thing you should already know is me better. Threats, blackmail and insults don’t work with me. I can guarantee that Viktor Gyökeres will not leave for €60m+10m (£51m+£8.5m) because I never promised him that. This game that the agent is playing only makes the situation worse. To this day, Sporting has not had an offer for Viktor Gyökeres, neither today nor last season.”
Former United star Rio Ferdinand has said this week that the club should’ve prioritised a move for Osimhen ahead of Gyokeres with the Nigerian no longer wanted by Napoli despite his impressive strike rate in the final third.
He said: “I think Gyokeres, everyone’s talking about him. Again, I think if I’m looking at the market now and I had to pick him or Osimhen, I’d probably pick Osimhen because of that experience.”
“And he’s shown he’s done it in multiple leagues now. And he’s done it internationally as well. I think he’s a top-class number nine who, again, the young players will be able to learn from. I’m not saying that Gyokeres would fail. I’m just saying that if I had a preference, I would go there.”
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