Man Utd set to ‘lead the race’ for Sporting Lisbon hotshot Viktor Gyokeres

Manchester United and Chelsea will lead the race to sign Sporting Lisbon sensation Viktor Gyokeres next summer.

Swedish striker Gyokeres has become the hottest prospect in Europe following his remarkable exploits with the Portuguese champions. Gyokeres’s hat-trick to demolish Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday night took his season’s tally to 23 in just 17 games.

In total, Gyokeres has plundered a stunning 66 goals in 67 matches since joining Sporting from Coventry City for just £20m in 2023. The 26-year-old now has a release clause in his contract worth €100m.

But it’s understood Sporting president Frederico Varandas agreed to consider offers in the region of €80m, if Gyokeres was willing to remain with Sporting until the end of this season.

The news will put some of Europe’s biggest clubs on red alert – and is expected to spark a mad scramble for his signature next summer. And the fact United have appointed the player’s former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim will make them one of the favourites to land Gyokeres.

Amorim and Gyokeres enjoyed a close relationship during their time together in Lisbon. United are also among the lowest scorers in the Premier League this season – and in desperate need of a world class finisher.

Amorim will spend his first six months with United assessing the talent in his squad.

Part of the agreement when United secured Amorim’s services last week was that he wouldn’t be able to raid his old club in the January transfer window, and will have to wait until the summer.

Amorim will also have the huge financial backing of United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. But the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona could consider stealing a march on United by making a move for Gyokeres in January.