Viktor Gyokeres is being linked with a move to Manchester United (Image: Diogo Cardoso)
Sporting Lisbon appears to have already begun preparing for Viktor Gyokeres’ potential departure, while Manchester United is the most recent team to be said to have expressed interest in him.
Sporting Lisbon’s move to lower Coventry’s sell-on clause for the desired striker has given Manchester United and other elite teams vying for Viktor Gyokeres a boost.
Since relocating to Portugal in the summer of 2022, Gyokeres, 26, has developed into one of Europe’s most productive No. 9. The Sweden international has a lot of suitors already, and his incredible hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League midweek may have garnered him even more fans.
The former Brighton forward was highly linked to Arsenal in the summer and is reportedly being courted by them. However, as Sporting manager Ruben Amorim gets ready to take over at Old Trafford, United has also reportedly expressed interest in Gyokeres.
It appears that Gyokeres will soon go on to new pastures, even if Amorim downplayed rumors of a January transfer this week. Sporting has already been getting preparations for his departure behind the scenes.
Sport revealed in the closing weeks of the summer transfer season that the Portuguese powerhouses had spent €2 million (£1.7 million) to lower Coventry’s 15% sell-on clause to 10%.
Sporting may have realized it’s almost time to cash in on their valuable asset because they have taken steps to ensure they stand to bank a larger piece of any prospective compensation for Gyokeres.
Due to a gentleman’s agreement with Sporting, who are willing to do business for a fee significantly lower than the €100 million (£83 million) release clause in the player’s contract, Gyokeres may even be available for as little as £63 million next summer, according to a new story from The Times this week.
After his last home game as manager in Portugal, Amorim was questioned about the possibility of bringing Sporting’s star scorer to Old Trafford.
However, it is said that United’s new head coach is hesitant to raid his present team because he does not want to damage his relationship with Sporting supporters. However, he hinted that Gyokeres would probably leave shortly after joking that he would be “in trouble” if he attempted to entice the striker to Manchester in January.
“I’ll get into trouble if I start making jokes about this Gyokeres situation,” he warned. I will show respect since this is my city and my nation. Viktor must remain until the end of the season, after which he will most likely go on.
