Manchester United survived by the skin of their teeth against Arsenal in the FA Cup thanks to a brilliant display from the backline and goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
However, Ruben Amorim will be concerned with the form of Rasmus Hojlund, who last scored over a month ago and has looked lost upfront on his own.
Summer signing Joshua Zirkzee has fared little better in front of goal while Marcus Rashford looks set to leave after his fateful interview.
While the team seems to be slowly coming to grips with the Portuguese head coach’s style of play, the lack of goals needs to be addressed soon if the club is to climb back up the Premier League table.
Striker needed, Amorim wants Gyokeres
That is why Amorim had asked for Viktor Gyokeres in January but United neither have the funds nor will Sporting Lisbon let go of their talisman for less than his release clause of €100 million.
The 39-year-old has promised his former employers that he would not approach any Sporting star in winter and therefore, a summer approach is now expected.
However, United could be in for a rude shock with Arsenal planning to raid the Lisbon outfit for their talismanic striker and are prepared to trigger his release clause in January itself as per L’Equipe.
They are in need of a goalscorer after Gabriel Jesus suffered an injury while trying to tackle Bruno Fernandes, for which the United skipper inexplicably got punished.
The Brazilian suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament for which he will have to undergo an operation and that is why Mikel Arteta is mulling over making attacking reinforcements this month.
“But the verdict came on Tuesday evening: victim of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, the Brazilian will not play again this season.
Arsenal join the race
“Among the center forwards followed by the Gunners last summer, some like Alexander Isak or Jonathan David seem inaccessible at the moment. The case of Viktor Gyökeres is perhaps different.
“The 26-year-old Swedish international has a €100m release clause in his contract with Sporting Portugal, a price Arsenal are no longer reluctant to pay since purchasing Declan Rice for €116m (in 2023).”
Now whether Arsenal will cough up the money now or wait till the summer remains to be seen. There is plenty of interest in the Swede with Bayern Munich also interested.
Gyokeres would prefer moving to a club in the Champions League, something United are unlikely to offer next season but United will be banking on the Amorim’s relationship with the striker, who reached his peak under the current United boss.
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
