Viktor Gyökeres
Premier League Rivals Intensify Pursuit of Prolific Sporting Lisbon Striker
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reportedly entered the race to sign Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting Lisbon, disrupting Manchester United’s ongoing negotiations for the Swedish striker. According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, Guardiola and City have accelerated their efforts to secure Gyökeres for 2025, aiming to beat United to the highly sought-after forward.
The move complicates United’s plans, as the club is already in advanced talks to bring Gyökeres to Old Trafford at the end of the current season. New United manager Ruben Amorim, who coached Gyökeres during their successful 15-month stint together at Sporting, is pushing for the striker’s transfer to bolster his squad.
Gyökeres, 25, has been in electrifying form, netting 24 goals in just 21 matches this season after an astonishing 43-goal campaign last year. His prolific scoring has drawn attention from top clubs across Europe, including Arsenal, Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. With a €100 million release clause in his Sporting contract, the striker is considered one of the hottest properties in football.
United, however, face financial hurdles and must offload players to finance the deal. Reports suggest the club would be willing to meet the release clause, or a slightly reduced figure, to secure Gyökeres’ services and reunite him with Amorim.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are reportedly preparing for a squad overhaul as they aim to refresh an ageing team. Gyökeres is seen as a key piece in Guardiola’s plans to maintain City’s dominance, adding more firepower to the attack.
Sporting Lisbon is expected to sell Gyökeres at the end of the 2024–25 season, providing the striker with an opportunity to take the next step in his career. Despite City’s interest, United remain favorites to land him due to Amorim’s influence and Gyökeres’ history with the manager.
The transfer saga sets up a fierce battle between the Manchester rivals, with both clubs eager to secure one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.
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