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Manchester United’s pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres has practically ended with the Sporting CP striker not focused on a move to Old Trafford, according to a report.
Florian Plettenberg (Sky Sports Germany) reveals a move by the Red Devils is “now almost off the table” for the Swedish international while stating Matheus Cunha will be signed instead.
Tweet: “Understand that a move for Victor #Gyökeres to Manchester United is now almost off the table! It is currently not the player’s objective either. Instead, #MUFC are now signing Matheus #Cunha @SkySportDE.”
Cunha is set to join United this summer after the club agreed a deal with Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign the Brazilian international yesterday.
The 25-year-old forward was identified as a primary target to help Ruben Amorim buttress his misfiring forward line with the expectation that he will take over one of the number ten roles in the Portuguese’s system.
But a new number nine remains a priority at Old Trafford given the dismal form of the senior striking partnership of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
A reunion between Gyokeres and Amorim would have delighted the United head coach given their incredible success together in Lisbon The prospect of no European football next season for the Reds appears to have been the death knell in a prospective move, however.
Plettenberg describes how a switch to Old Trafford is not Gyokeres’ “objective” amid reports suggesting the 26-year-old striker is a major target for Premier League rival Arsenal, who can offer Champions League football to the Swede.
But Gyokeres and Cunha would have proven a complimentary pairing in Amorim’s front line and a dramatic upgrade on the pre-existing options in the Old Trafford dressing room. The fact that Plettenberg indicates a failed pursuit of the former enables the signing of the latter suggests United’s budget could only stretch to one big signing in attack, with a compromise made on the other target.
Gyokeres was expected to cost around £55 million with significant wage demands and agent fees. Cunha, by comparison, will cost £62.5 million due to his release clause at Molineux.
A report relayed by The Peoples Person revealed the budget at Old Trafford this summer will be just under the £100 million mark before sales. This means a double swoop for Gyokeres and Cunha would have proven too costly to secure at the beginning of the summer window before any outbound transfers which take time to sanction.
Instead, the club appear to have chosen to prioritise one while signing a cheaper alternative for the other – e.g. Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, whose contract at Portman Road contains a £30 million relegation clause.
Featured image Carlos Rodrigues via Getty Images
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