Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyökeres has been one of the most talked about players this summer.
After an impressive two seasons in Portugal, the former Swansea City and Coventry City striker has been linked with several of Europe’s top clubs in the past few months.
It seemed to have come down to two clubs, with Arsenal and Manchester United seen as the top two contenders for Gyökeres’ signature.
However, United have reportedly ‘accepted defeat’ on the Swedish international.
Hugo Ekitike has been strongly linked. The club were said to have opened talks, but talks around this transfer seem to have cooled in recent days.
It has been a tough season for Ruben Amorim’s side, even before the Portugese native arrived at Old Trafford.
United need as much help as they can in attack.
Captain Bruno Fernandes had an outstanding campaign in amongst United’s struggles.
In the Premier League he and Amad Diallo made up 36% of the squad’s league goals and 57% of their assists in 2024/25.
Despite a combined fee of £108.5 million, strikers Rasmus Højlund (£72 million, 2023) and Joshua Zirkzee (£36.5 million, 2024), they served up a measly total of seven goals between them.
Neither Højlund or Zirkzee were signed by Amorim and there is no sign that they are going to be seen as the future of the club.
Manchester United target Serie A forward as Gyökeres alternative
It has been reported that Juventus’ Serbian striker Dušan Vlahović is being targeted by Man United.
With just one year left on his contract and the permanent signing of Randal Kolo Muani this summer, the Old Lady may feel it is time to move on from Vlahović and get some money out of the departure whilst they can.
This is despite 56 goals in 144 games in Turin, with 15 in 42 games this season.
Aged 25, he is two years younger than Gyökeres.
Gyökeres may have more career goals (174) and a better goals to game ratio (52%) than Vlahović.
Despite this, with eight straight years in Serie A with Juve and Fiorentina, Vlahović is the more proven at the highest level.
With the club looking for ways to get back up the table, signing someone such as Vlahović on a cheaper deal might just prove to be a masterstroke from Amorim and the United board.
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