Viktor Gyökeres to Manchester United? His career in profile amid transfer links

As Ruben Amorim prepares for life at Manchester United, there is speculation on whether he’ll bring his striker Viktor Gyökeres with him.

After the 26-year-old’s hat trick in Sporting’s 4-1 win over Manchester City in the Champions League, rumours circulated that the Portuguese manager may want to reunite with the Swedish forward at United.

What do we know about Viktor Gyökeres?

He began his career in the Swedish second division with Brommapojkarna before joining Brighton in 2018. He struggled to make an impression on the south coast and was loaned to St. Pauli in the German second division for the 2019-2020 season, where he scored seven goals.

After a difficult loan spell with Championship side Swansea in 2020, during which he scored just one goal, he was recalled by Brighton and loaned to Coventry for the rest of the season. He joined the Sky Blues on a permanent deal in July 2021 for £1million, whilst United’s current sporting director Dan Ashworth was the technical director at Brighton.

And it was under Mark Robins at Coventry that Gyökeres began to show his talent, as he scored 17 goals in 47 games in his first full season. After 22 goals in 50 games in his second season with the Sky Blues, he secured a transfer to Sporting CP, joining for approximately £20 million. And he won the Primeira Liga Player of the Year in his debut season, finishing as the league’s top goalscorer with 29, as Sporting CP won the league. His form continued into this season, and after his hat-trick against Manchester City, the Swede has 20 goals in 17 games.

What has Gyökeres done for Sweden?

He made his national team debut in a friendly in January 2019 as Sweden lost 1-0 to Finland, before he scored his first international goal three days later in a 2-2 draw with Iceland. He did not make the senior squad again until June 2022 but has since played regularly and now has 10 goals in 24 games for Sweden.

Although they failed to qualify for the 2024 European Championships, they are now top of their Nations League group and Gyökeres has four goals in four.

What has been said about United’s interest?

After Gyökeres’ hat-trick on Tuesday night, Amorim was asked if he would be bringing the Swede with him to Manchester. He told TNT: “No, no, no, no. I cannot be funny with that in this moment.

”It was tough for me to leave, if I start joking about that with Gyokeres, I’ll have problems. This is my city, this is my country, I will respect.

“Viktor has to stay until the end of the season and then his life is going, maybe, somewhere else.” He reportedly has a release clause of €100m (£83m)

Do United need Gyökeres?

United currently have two senior strikers at the club: Rasmus Højlund, 21, and Joshua Zirkzee, 23. However, they are both inexperienced and have struggled at times to deal with the pressure of being United’s number nine.

It took Højlund until Boxing Day for his first league goal last season, as he finished his inaugural season at Old Trafford with 16 goals from 43 games. Zirkzee started well at Old Trafford, scoring the winning goal 26 minutes into his debut on the opening day against Fulham but the Dutchman has not scored since. Striking woes were a common theme under ten Hag, resulting in United having found the back of the net just nine times in the league this season – the 3rd lowest in the league, only Crystal Palace and Southampton have scored less.

Bringing in a striker who has 16 league goals this campaign – seven more than United’s whole team feels a sensible move.

What sort of player is Gyökeres?

For those who saw Sporting’s equaliser against Manchester City, Gyökeres showcased his pace and strength to hold off Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, before sending a smart finish past Ederson.He is an accomplished goalscorer, albeit he receives significantly more chances than United’s strikers.

He has had 49 shots in the league this season, accumulating an xG of 12.2, from which he has 16 goals. By comparison, Rasmus Højlund has had four shots, combining for an xG of 1.03 and one goal. Joshua Zirkzee has had 11 shots, combining for an xG of 2.6, and one goal.

Gyökeres is both tall and fast. At 6ft 1 (1.87m) he provides a welcome boost at set pieces, whilst his top speed of 34.55km/h recorded in this season’s Champions League is the second-highest in the Sporting squad. For a United team that often relies on pace in transition, it is an important asset.

United fans will also be relieved to read of a strong injury record. Despite undergoing surgery on his left knee at the end of last season, he has played every game this season.