Europe's elite are set to go to war over Viktor Gyokeres's signature, but Manchester United believe they hold the keys to securing his services.
United reportedly feel they have the edge due to four specific factors despite their woeful season and ever-wilting pulling power. Rivals Arsenal have urgent need of forward reinforcements after Gabriel Jesus suffered a serious knee injury, but Gyokeres may be a bit rich for their blood mid-season.
The same likely goes for United as clubs scrape to contend with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). However, the summer is a different matter, with funds likely to be made available to Ruben Amorim in what will be his first summer transfer window in charge at Old Trafford.
It's understood Gyokeres has a release clause worth around £83million, a sum out of reach for just about any team in January. However, BBC Sport reported in November that Sporting CP would be willing to accept closer to £65m for their player, with 10 per cent of all profits set to go to his previous club, Coventry City.
The Independent also cited the "good relationship" between United and Sporting as a second reason the Red Devils could be in pole position for their target. The clubs have conducted business in the past, with United most recently signing Bruno Fernandes from the Estadio Alvalade in the 2020 winter transfer window.
Prior to that, the likes of Marcos Rojo, Nani, and a certain Cristiano Ronaldo each moved to Old Trafford via smooth negotiations. And it's reported United's willingness to respect Sporting's desire for Gyokeres to see out the season in Lisbon could pay dividends come this summer.
Another factor in their favour is the well-documented relationship between the Sweden striker and United boss Amorim. It was of course Amorim who signed Gyokeres for Sporting in the summer of 2021, and what followed was one of the biggest glow-ups witnessed in modern football.
Playing as the tip of the spear in Amorim's plans, the frontman went from 40 goals across two seasons in the Championship to outscoring that tally in his debut campaign in Portugal. The Independent's report asserts Gyokeres "would love to work with Amorim again," and it's perhaps telling that his figures have dropped off following Amorim's exit for England.
Last but not least is the "lure of Old Trafford and United," who have been out of sorts for more than a decade. But with that fall from grace comes the possibility that a resurgence could always be on the horizon, and Gyokeres may fancy the idea of potentially teaming up with his beloved coach to bring about that fate.
Despite plummeting from their prestige in the Premier League, the reigning FA Cup champions can still attract some of the world's best talent, such as Leny Yoro, who chose United over Real Madrid last summer. And Gyokeres could follow in the footsteps of Swedish greats like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson by leading the line at the Theatre of Dreams.
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