Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has warned his old club about making a move for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.
The Red Devils have been incredibly inefficient in front of goal this season, scoring just 34 times in 28 league matches.
Attackers Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho have both failed to score in 2025 in spite of playing almost every week due to United’s wafer-thin depth in attack.
This means that the Red Devils are almost guaranteed to sign a striker this summer and they have been linked to a plethora of names.
Gyokeres had been mentioned as a potential option, largely due to his history with current United manager Ruben Amorim when he was at Sporting CP.
Nonetheless, it has been reported that not only will the Swede be too expensive for United but that he prefers to join a club that will likely be in the Champions League next season.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former defender downplayed how good a fit the Swede would be for United or the Premier League.
“I don’t think he’s the guy. I’ve not watched him loads, but I’ve probably watched him three times really, really closely.”
“Three times I’ve watched him, and I’ve gone, he ain’t getting those opportunities in the Premier League. When I see him physically matched, I don’t see it. What else is there?”
Ferdinand went on, “that’s the question I’m asking. Is there enough after he’s physically matched to get a goal? Physicality is a massive thing in the game today. A Ruben Amorim team needs physicality and runners, but there’s no real physicality in this squad. It just isn’t there.”
It seems a harsh analysis of a player who has scored 39 goals and provided nine assists this season, including six in the Champions League.
Nonetheless, many top players have arrived to English shores and then failed and it also must be said Gyokeres only managed 43 goals in 116 appearances for Coventry City in the Championship just a few years ago in England.
Featured image Gualter Fatia via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
