Why Man United are confident of signing £83m ‘World-class’ striker ahead of Arsenal and Man City in January transfer window revealed

Why Man United are confident of signing £83m ‘World-class’ striker ahead of Arsenal and Man City in January transfer window revealed

Manchester United is certain that they will sign Viktor Gyokeres, a prolific goal scorer, before Manchester City and Arsenal, their Premier League opponents.

Since signing with Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2023, Gyokeres, 26, has scored an incredible 24 goals in 19 appearances this season and 67 in 69.

After completing a €20 million transfer to the Portuguese city, the Sweden international, who had been playing for Coventry City in the Championship, has elevated both his game and reputation.

Numerous clubs have taken notice of Gyokeres’ outstanding play, as he has three hat-tricks this season, including one against Man City earlier this month.

Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move given their current shortcomings in front of goal and the fact their new manager, Ruben Amorim, left Sporting and Gyokeres to take over at Old Trafford.

Premier League title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City are also believed to be interest in bringing Gyokeres to the Premier League, fully aware that he can be signed for a relatively small fee of £65m.

The heavy and wide interest in Gyokeres could lead to a huge transfer tussle ahead of the January transfer window but The Sun say Manchester United are confident of winning the race given the influence of Amorim.

Man City have reason to be confident themselves, however, as their incoming sporting director Hugo Viana, due to arrive at the Etihad Stadium next summer, is coming from Sporting Lisbon.

Amorim, who took charge of Manchester United on November 11, refused to fuel speculation he would look to sign Gyokeres at his first press conference as Old Trafford manager.

‘Viktor Gyokeres is a Sporting player,’ said the 39-year-old who was appointed following Erik ten Hag’s sacking.

‘He has a game tonight [Friday] and I hope he plays well, doesn’t get injured and continues to be successful at Sporting.’

One of Gyokeres’ mentors, ex-Sweden midfielder Anders Limpar, recently urged the prolific forward to complete a ‘crazy’ move to Arsenal.

‘I know Gyokeres very well personally, I was a bit of a mentor for him when he played for Brommapojkarna, he and Ludwig Augustinsson,’ he told FotbollDirekt.

So, I’ve talked a lot about professional life with him. He’s a fantastically hardworking forward who scores a lot of goals.

‘If we at Arsenal [were to] buy Gyokeres, then he will definitely call me. But then to see Gyokeres at Arsenal, that would be crazy

‘His work rate, he runs like a madman. When it doesn’t work out for Viktor, he works his way into the game with uncomfortable runs

‘When other top forwards aren’t doing well, they don’t work so hard for the team, they save their energy, Viktor never saves his energy.

‘When things are a bit slow, he works his way into a game with runs, that’s why it has gone so well.’

While Gyokeres has attracted attention from some of the biggest clubs in Europe, not everyone is convinced he would succeed in the Premier League