Manchester United’s Transfer Plans: Gyokeres and Mbeumo Targets
Manchester United have made an initial approach for Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres through intermediaries, Sky Sports News has been told. The Red Devils are exploring the conditions of a potential deal for the 27-year-old, with head coach Erik ten Hag reportedly a big admirer of Gyokeres, having been impressed by his performances at Sporting.
Gyokeres has a gentleman’s agreement to leave Sporting this summer for offers above £58m (€70m), despite a release clause of around £84m (€100m). The Swedish striker has been in scintillating form, scoring 54 goals in 52 games this past season for the Portuguese champions, including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League. In the 2023/24 campaign, Gyokeres scored 43 goals in 50 appearances.
Manchester United are in the market for a striker, regardless of Rasmus Hojlund’s future at the club. Although the Denmark international has stated that he is not considering leaving the club and will fight for his place next season, United are looking at a number of players in that position. According to Sky Sports News, United will be in the market for a No 9 after the signing of Matheus Cunha and the potential arrival of Bryan Mbeumo.
A big focus at United will be on departures too, with offers expected for the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, and Antony. The preference is to agree to permanent sales for those players; however, loan deals cannot be ruled out. There has been plenty of interest, but as yet, no formal offers.
Sky Sports News reported that Sporting paid roughly £20m to sign Gyokeres from Coventry in 2023, but they are expected to make a huge profit on his anticipated sale. The 27-year-old, who scored 40 times in 97 games for Coventry, joining on loan from Brighton initially before making the move permanent in 2021, has hit new heights since his switch to Portugal, smashing 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting, including 11 in 17 in European competition.
His remarkable scoring exploits have seen him treble in value to £75m in the space of two years, according to the website Transfermarkt, who valued him at less than £1m when he joined Coventry from Brighton in the summer of 2021. Gyokeres’ availability for £58m, considerably less than his Transfermarkt valuation, has made him even more attractive to his suitors, including Manchester United. A reunion with Erik ten Hag, who helped bring the best out of him at Sporting, now looks a possibility, with Sky Sports News stating that ten Hag is a big fan of the striker.
Manchester United are expected to go back in with an improved offer for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo after having their first bid rejected, and they remain optimistic a deal can be struck. There are reports suggesting Thomas Frank will try and tempt Mbeumo to go to Tottenham Hotspur if he takes over as their new head coach; however, it’s understood the player wants to join United.
Man Utd saw their opening bid of £55m rejected. The offer consisted of a guaranteed £45m plus £10m in bonuses. There is a feeling at Brentford that Mbeumo has earned the chance to move to a bigger club this summer if one meets his valuation. United have already agreed a deal to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m. The transfer is subject to visa and registration, which is expected to be formally completed once the Brazil forward returns from international duty.
According to Sky Sports’ Data Editor Adam Smith, Bryan Mbeumo scored 20 goals in the Premier League last season to help Brentford secure a top-half finish – only three players scored more. He also notched seven assists but should have registered more, clocking a league-topping 9.26 expected assists during the campaign – primarily from delivering a table-topping 202 crosses. Additionally, only two players covered more distance or attempted more sprints for the season, making him one of the hardest grafters in the league. He also provides serious pace – clocking the fourth-fastest speed at 36.63 km/h.
Only Mohamed Salah collected more form points than Mbeumo last term, according to the Sky Sports Power Rankings. Factoring in decisive goals or assists that changed the outcomes of games, his 27 goal contributions earned Brentford 22 points – equating to 40 per cent of the Bees’ season tally. As noted by Sky Sports News, Mbeumo’s impressive statistics make him an attractive target for Manchester United, and it remains to be seen whether they can agree a deal for the Brentford forward.
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