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If there was one factor Ruben Amorimโs Manchester United challenge craved final season, it was targets.
Sadly, his United assault proved about as sharp as a mallet.
Forward of the brand new league marketing campaign, modifications have been wanted, the sort that solely the switch window might handle.
Two artistic 10s (with a watch for purpose) have been anticipated to reach, however the crown jewel of this attacking rebuild was at all times going to be a striker.
Matheus Cunha has signed. Fingers crossed, Bryan Mbeumo follows quickly.
Pairing these tried-and-tested Premier League playmakers with a correct purpose poacher was at all times going to be a nightmare for opponents.
The dream striker signing
Ideally, that striker was purported to be Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swede did effectively at Coventry Metropolis (43 targets and 17 assists in 116 matches), however it was his transfer to Sporting CP, to play below Amorim, that noticed him explode onto the European stage.
In his debut marketing campaign in Portugal, the 27-year-old bagged 43 targets and 14 assists in 50 appearances.
Even after Amorimโs departure, Gyokeres stored firing on all cylinders, ending up with a formidable 54 targets in 52 video games final season.
GyokeresโAmorim reunion?
It’s straightforward to see why INEOS have been eager to signal him and stage a harmful reunion at Previous Trafford.
However with no Champions League soccer on provide, convincing him was at all times going to be difficult, particularly with league rivals Arsenal circling.
Nicely, final weekend, Unitedโs hopes of touchdown him took a success.
Reports emerged that Arsenal had made Gyokeres their prime striker goal, with club-to-club contact underway, leaving the Purple Devils no alternative however to discover options.
Names resembling Ollie Watkins and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have been floated as Unitedโs Plan B.
Even so, the Gyokeres hyperlinks persist
Studies counsel Arsenal are struggling to reach an agreement over a price with the Portuguese champions.
Such frustrations might see them stroll away from the deal.
Ought to that occur, hypothesis has grown that Gyokeres is likely to be open to a change to the Theatre of Desires.
From such claims, recent hope has immediately emerged round Unitedโs possibilities of a swoop.
However Portuguese outlet Record has now provided a sobering dose of actuality.
Gyokeres by no means needed Man United
The publication writes that the striker has already rejected three separate approaches from United, who don’t provide Champions League soccer.
He solely needs Arsenal:
โBased on data gathered by File, the striker and his representatives have already rejected three separate approaches from Ruben Amorimโs aspectโthe identical Amorim who, itโs price noting, receivedโt be managing within the Champions League subsequent season. Solely Arsenal pursuits him.โ
It will have been a switch masterstroke had Amorim managed to convey Gyokeres to Previous Trafford, however it isn’t occurring.
The membership has already made it clear that it’ll not chase gamers whose precedence is solely taking part in in particular competitions.
INEOS should lick their wounds and pivot to different impactful deals that would nonetheless enable Amorim to discipline a robust aspect able to climbing the league desk.
With Rasmus Hojlund eager to stay put, and each Joshua Zirkzee and Chido Obi tipped for breakout seasons, maybe subsequent season is one to present that trio the advantage of the doubt in main Unitedโs assault.
Featured picture Stuart Franklin through Getty Pictures
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