Sporting Lisbon talisman scores four in 5-1 win amid Manchester United links
11/01/2024 06:07 PM
Manchester United have announced Ruben Amorim as their new head coach just days after sacking Erik ten Hag. The decision will see the Reds linked with a flurry of players from Sporting Lisbon and elsewhere in the Primeira Liga.
One player certain to be linked is Viktor Gyokeres, a player wanting to try himself at a better club, perhaps under the same manager who brought him to Sporting from Coventry City in the Championship.
United won't fall into the same traps as they did under Erik ten Hag by solely buying players the manager previously worked under. Amorim is the head coach rather than the manager, and he will have less influence over signings.
That said, Gyokeres is currently one of the best-performing players in Europe right now. It wouldn't surprise us if INEOS were eyeing a move for Sporting's best player after taking their manager along with his coaching staff.
According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Amorim's departure has left several players feeling annoyed and frustrated. Those players include Gyokeres and United-linked Morten Hjulmand after they supposedly rejected offers to see through Amorim's exciting project in Lisbon.
United will face competition for Gyokeres as he's already been strongly linked with Arsenal, who could reignite their interest in the Swedish forward when the transfer window opens in January.
Back in April, Gyokeres' agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, admitted the prolific attacker would find it difficult to stay with Sporting should Amorim move on from the Primeira Liga outfit.
"Yes, it will be more difficult for Viktor to stay if Ruben Amorim leaves Sporting," Cetinkaya told A Bola (cited by The Metro).
"Viktor to Sporting came precisely because of Ruben. The day we met, I said to Ruben: 'Here's my boy, he came to Sporting because of you'.
"Of course, it's an honour for any player to be able to play in the Champions League. Viktor is no exception in that respect, but there are other important things and Ruben Amorim is one of them. If he leaves, it will be more difficult for Viktor to continue."
Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood told Sky Sports this week Amorim will "100 per cent" bring Gyokeres with him to Old Trafford.
"He [Amorim] will know,"Sherwood said. "The little detail – what he will learn in training about these guys.
"He needs to then decide, what do I need in January?
"Does he bring in Marcus Edwards with him? That boy is a superstar. He went from Tottenham [Hotspur] to Sporting.
"Do we bring Gyokeres? He's absolutely on fire at the moment. I would suggest 100 per cent that boy comes in because they're [United] starved of centre-forwards.
"They've got Hojlund, they've got Zirkzee, who's not a centre-forward anyway, but they've got to get him out before they can bring players in, and that's the problem."
Viktor Gyokeres scores four for Sporting tonight
Although it was a disruptive week for Sporting, losing their manager to Manchester United, Amorim remained in charge for a 5-1 win over Estrela da Amadora.
Sporting continued their flawless start to the season to keep their run of 10 wins, zero draws and zero defeats.
Gyokeres continued his incredible season, scoring four times to make it 20 goals in just 16 games.
Sporting's fifth came from Maxi Araujo, who netted his first goal for the club.
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