Manchester United are scouring the transfer market for strikers they could sign in January after conceding that Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres is too expensive
Manchester United are considering their options for the January transfer window after deciding that signing a striker is a priority.
United have scored just 13 goals in 12 Premier League games so far this season – the joint fourth-worst tally in the division. They finished last season with 57 goals and a goal difference of -1 and strikers Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have struggled for consistency.
The new hierarchy hired Ruben Amorim in the hope that the Portuguese boss could get the most out of the expensively-assembled but under-performing squad. Erik ten Hag was furnished with £600million on transfers over his two-and-a-half-year reign as manager, but Amorim has been told to expect much more modest financial backing.
However, United’s struggles in front of goal have forced the club to look ahead to January, when they could be tempted to bring in more firepower. United have been linked with a move for Sporting superstar Viktor Gyokeres ever since Amorim joined the club, but his price tag makes a mid-season transfer unviable.
Instead, Sky Germany reports that they are considering four other alternatives in case the form of their current forwards doesn’t improve. Victor Osimhen, who is on loan from Napoli to Galatasaray, is one of the names on the list, having netted eight goals in 10 games this season. After being priced out of a permanent move over the summer, he has a £63million release clause for 2025.
Omar Marmoush has caught their attention by scoring 11 goals in as many games for Eintracht Frankfurt. The Egypt international could cost around £50m after hitting a purple patch.
Other options include Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani and Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface. Kolo Muani has struggled to get into the PSG team this season and would reportedly be available on loan, just a year after joining the French giants for £77m.
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Boniface has eight goals in 15 games for Leverkusen this season and could prove pricey. That is an issue for United who are under pressure to comply with PSR rules having posted losses before tax of £312.9m over the past three seasons.
Amorim 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 previous 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.”
Gyokeres has already addressed the rumours that he might follow his manager to Old Trafford. He said: “Going with Amorim to Man United? I don’t know, I’m here. I really like being here, it’s not something I think about. I’m enjoying it here. I’m sad about him leaving. We wish him all the best.”
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