Man Utd ‘willing to pay’ €100 million release clause to sign Sporting Lisbon striker with 29 goals and 10 assists this season

Man Utd ‘willing to pay’ €100 million release clause to sign Sporting Lisbon striker with 29 goals and 10 assists this season

Manchester United are reportedly willing to pay the €100 million release clause to sign former Coventry star Viktor Gyokeres this summer, according to reports.

Gyokeres currently plays for Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon after completing a £20 million move away from the Championship side last summer.

The Sweden international played a key role in Coventry’s progression to the second division play-off final last season, scoring 21 goals and adding a further 10 assists.

Mark Robins’ side lost to Luton in the play-off final at Wembley, meaning it was unsurprising to then see top division sides come calling for Coventry’s key players, including Gyokeres.

And while star midfielder Gustavo Hamer became a Sheffield United player, Gyokeres joined Sporting for a club-record fee in July.

The 25-year-old’s goalscoring form has risen to new heights in Portugal, as he has 16 goals in just 20 Primeira Liga games this season.

He also has eight assists to his name – including three in the same match when Sporting beat Estoril 5-1 last month.

It is easy to see why those numbers would appeal to Erik ten Hag and United, as although the Swede has played as a lone striker for both Sporting and Coventry, he could feasibly form a strike partnership with Rasmus Hojlund at Old Trafford.

And according to Spanish outlet Fichajes, United are willing to pay the forward’s release clause, which stands at a huge €100 million (around £85 million), once the summer transfer window opens.

That fee would comfortably exceed the reported £64 million initial sum that the club paid to sign Hojlund from Atalanta last year.

Speaking in December, Gyokeres appeared to shut down transfer rumours linking him with other clubs: “I think it’s a bit like when Sporting came in to sign me.

“I’m very happy here and I don’t care about any interested parties at the moment. I’m enjoying every day here and not thinking about what’s going on around me.

“Yes, there’s talk of big clubs, but for now it’s just news. That’s all.”