Manchester United have reportedly made a final decision on their pursuit of Viktor Gyökeres this summer as Rúben Amorim searches for goals.
Manchester United are set to reshape their attacking options this summer after a disappointing 2024/25 season that saw them finish 15th in the Premier League, with a lack of goals contributing heavily to their poor form.
Bruno Fernandes was the club’s top scorer with 19 goals, while Alejandro Garnacho and Amad both netted 11. Rasmus Højlund added 10, but no other player managed to reach double figures in any competition.
United have already completed the £62.5 million signing of Matheus Cunha and are progressing in talks for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. Reports indicate that Brentford are satisfied with a base fee of £55 million, and UtdDistrict understands that a third bid is now set to be tabled in due course.
The club are also in the market for a new centre-forward. While Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres was an early target, the Swedish striker is now understood to prefer a move to Arsenal, leading United to explore other options.
United make final decision on Gyökeres signing
While Arsenal have been touted as the Swede’s ideal destination this summer, it has been stressed in the media that the player has not rejected the chance to join United, but is instead waiting to see if a move to Arsenal is possible before making any further decision on his future.
United have been patiently waiting in the wings as the striker’s situation develops, with a rather messy exit scenario panning out at Sporting amid a public spat between the club’s board members and Gyökeres’ agent.
With Gyokerse keen to move to the Emirates, a fresh report from The Mirror has now detailed that United have now ‘accepted defeat’ in the race for the 27-year-old centre-forward.
United are said to be ‘convinced’ that Gyökeres has his heart set on Arsenal, and Rúben Amorim’s club will concentrate their efforts on signing a new No. 9 before the start of the Premier League season.
United turning their attention to phenomenal Watkins signing
With Gyökeres reportedly now out of the picture, United are turning their attention toward pursuing 29-year-old Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
Amorim wants Premier League experience in his signings this summer, and Watkins has 75 goals and 36 assists in 184 appearances in the competition, making him a “phenomenal” fit for the club’s new-look front line.
The Mirror report claims that United are now ‘stepping up their interest’ in the England forward, with Watkins ‘open’ to the idea of making the switch to Manchester this summer.
United have already held ‘tentative’ talks with Villa over the striker, with Amorim seeing Watkins as an ideal player to lead United’s line next season due to his experience and expertise in the position.
However, Villa are said to want as much as £60 million for the forward this summer, a figure United are reluctant to match due to his age and lack of resale value.
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