Manchester United’s already slim chances of signing Viktor Gyokeres this month have just got even slimmer with the news that Bayern Munich are in the hunt for the Sporting Lisbon star.Gyokeres: From Lisbon to Munich? United’s hopes fading fast
United are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggling and Marcus Rashford eyeing the exit in the January transfer window. Ruben Amorim’s side had failed to score in three successive games before their much-improved performance in the 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday.
Having frozen him out of the side, Amorim has green lighted Rashford’s potential departure this month provided the club’s £40million valuation is met. There is also interest in Zirkzee, with Amorim admitting that he doesn’t know if the Dutchman could leave this month too.
Gyokeres has scored 73 goals in 78 appearances for Sporting and has been linked with a move to Old Trafford ever since Amorim and his coaching staff made the switch on November 1. The 39-year-old United coach has made it clear to the club hierarchy that he would like to sign the Sweden international at the first opportunity.
That was already a long shot, given Gyokeres has a £80m release clause and now The Daily Star reports that Bayern Munich have joined the race. The Bavarian giants are reportedly willing to pay the release clause and their status in Germany, as well as presence in the Champions League, makes them a more attractive proposition for Gyokeres.
United are competing in the Europa League this season and sit 13th in the Premier League, making a return to Europe’s top club competition in 2025/26 unlikely.
Mirror Football understands that Amorim assured Sporting that he would not sign any of their players in the January transfer window as a gesture of good will. He has already admitted he has no chance of luring Gyokeres to United mid-season. “I’m not going to get any players from Sporting in January,” he conceded. “Gyokeres costs €100m and it’s very difficult.”
In a press conference while still at Sporting, Amorim added: “This is my city, this is my country, so I’ll respect it. Viktor has to stay until the end of the season and then his life will probably go somewhere else.”
The summer transfer window could be a different thing altogether, with an overhaul of the underperforming squad already being planned. Amorim knows he will have to operate with a limited transfer budget, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS hierarchy tightening the belt.
Erik ten Hag was furnished with £600m of transfers over his two-and-a-half-year reign as manager, but his successor has been told to expect much more modest financial backing. United are under pressure to comply with profit and sustainability rules having posted losses before tax of £312.9m over the past three seasons.
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