Viktor Gyokeres: Man Utd's key hope revealed in Arsenal transfer battle | OneFootball

Manchester United hope they have a key advantage over Arsenal in the race to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP - the prolific striker's close relationship with Ruben Amorim.

Gyokeres was playing Championship football for Coventry City at the age of 24, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Premier League in May 2023. Two months later he joined Sporting CP on a five-year contract in a move worth just €20m plus add-ons.

Some 18 months on, Gyokeres is revered as one of Europe's deadliest finishers. In 80 appearances across all competitions for Sporting, the Swede has bagged 75 goals and is currently scoring at a rate of over one goal per game in 2024/25.

Barcelona and Chelsea have been tipped as potential landing spots in a €100m transfer - the value of the release clause inserted into Gyokeres' contract - but the most noise has revolved around moves to either Manchester United or Arsenal.

Amid a raft of ongoing speculation, The Independent note that United are optimistic that they can hold off their Premier League adversaries and tie up a deal for Gyokeres, despite Arsenal's search for a new forward intensifying after Gabriel Jesus' unfortunate ACL injury.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that the club are looking to bring in reinforcements, though it's unlikely they would part with such a hefty sum of money to sign Gyokeres mid-season - Sporting keen for any interested club to pay his release clause in full. The Gunners are also set to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in a £51m summer transfer, which would take a significant chunk out of the club's budget.

United have Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee as their striking options, but the latter is expected to head back to Italy after an unconvincing first year at Old Trafford. Juventus are a potential landing spot for Zirkzee, though a move may be dependent on shipping out Dusan Vlahovic.

Zirkzee's departure would free up space for Gyokeres to reunite with former boss Amorim, who guided Sporting to an unbeaten start to this season before departing for United in November. The talented Portuguese coach found a way to get the best out of the now 26-year-old Gyokeres, and United also have a good relationship with the club following their negotiations for Amorim.

Gyokeres is said to be ready to play at a higher level, with the lure of playing for a club as prestigious as Manchester United - despite their 11-year Premier League title drought - also a key factor in a future decision.