Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Viktor Gyokeres, leaving Manchester United to look elsewhere for a centre-forward.
Ruben Amorim’s relationship with Gyokeres from their time at Sporting Lisbon wasn’t enough to bring him to Manchester though, as the Swede prefers a move to North London.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that an agreement between Arsenal and Sporting is close, with the Gunners ready to pay around £70 million even before discussions over add-ons are finished.
United’s transfer activity this summer has been slow with Ineos reportedly authorising sales for Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Jadon Sancho. None of those deals have materialised, leaving the club short on cash to match Arsenal’s offer for Gyokeres.
Despite missing out on the Swede, United still need a new striker – and there’s one name that could help fans quickly forget about Gyokeres.
United should turn to Victor Osimhen after missing out on Gyokeres
If United go into their opening match against Arsenal without a new striker, it could set the tone for a tough start to the season. One name stands out as a potential solution: Victor Osimhen.
The 26-year-old Napoli striker has not yet made a decision on his future, and United may have a clear path to sign him without competition from other big clubs – at least for now.
He has stayed in the background of United’s plans for much of the summer. While the club have not pulled the trigger on a deal yet, all the pieces are in place.
According to Calciomercato, Napoli are ready to accept a £63.5m offer for the 26-year-old – just over half of the enormous release clause that had been previously mentioned. However, Ineos still need to bring in funds through player sales because cash is tight this summer.
Red Devils may wait, but Osimhen is worth it
It appears the only deal ready in time for pre-season is Matheus Cunha, with talks still ongoing for Bryan Mbeumo.
Amorim has already told five players they won’t be returning to pre-season. If Ineos can start raising funds soon, a move for Osimhen might become a reality.
By the time the season opener comes around, Amorim might have his new striker – even if it takes a bit longer than fans would like.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
