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Manchester United’s uphill battle to sign Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres as their new centre forward just became even steeper, according to a new report from Portugal.
According to Record (today’s paper edition, page 6), Atletico Madrid have made Gyokeres their top transfer target this summer and are in a strong position to complete the deal.
The paper claims that Atleti’s head coach Diego Simeone “informed the club’s directors that he wants the green and whites’ top striker of the last two seasons”.
The Madrid outfit will have the money to pay Gyokeres’ transfer fee as they have qualified for the 2025/26 Champions League and also have just signed a new €30 million per year, 10 year sponsorship deal with Nike.
“The most complicated thing is convincing Viktor that this is really the right step to take in a career that is clearly on an upward curve,” Record explains.
“This is where the real impasse will lie, as the Sweden international does not want to make a hasty choice, that is, he needs time to breathe and only then, together with his entourage, decide which path to take.”
Record also summarise the other runners and riders in this summer’s Grand National of football transfers, with United’s name included.
They state that “with the arrival of Matheus Cunha and no Champions League football, the chance of a reunion with Ruben Amorim is virtually zero. But football is football…”
PSG are mentioned but Record says Luis Enrique is not entirely convinced he needs the 26 year old. Arsenal’s change of direction toward Benjamin Sesko is also noted.
The Gunners are finding RB Leipzig tough neogtiators over the Slovenian, however, and it is more than possible they will double back toward Gyokeres if they hit a brick wall over the younger man.
Napoli are also cited as having an interest and being the only club in Italy capable of meeting Sporting’s salary demands.
In the Serie A club’s case, the presence of Romelu Lukaku in the centre forward position would seem to make a move to Gyokeres unlikely, although the former United striker is now 32 years of age.
That being said, Atleti themselves have Julian Alvarez doing a good job in the centre forward role.
Record’s claim that Gyokeres will take his time to weigh up his options this summer is likely to be true. This in turn could leave United in limbo in terms of pursuing other options if Amorim’s protégé remains their number one target.
Featured image Gualter Fatia via Getty Images
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