INEOS mind games: 22-goal ace just a fallback in United’s hunt for 27yo ‘addicted to scoring goals’ – report

Manchester United have not abandoned their pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres, with a move for Hugo Ekitike reportedly seen as a fallback should the deal for the Swede fall through.

United are determined to land a reliable goal-scoring striker following a frustrating 2024-25 campaign.

Several strikers have been linked, but none stand out quite like Gyokeres.

Why Gyokeres?

There are two key reasons:

First, the Sporting CP striker has been scoring for fun, coming off a league campaign in which he registered 54 goals and 13 assists across 52 games.

Speaking to O Jogo (last November), the 27-year-old opened up about his goal-scoring instincts:

“Yes, it seems like it’s always been like that since I started playing as a kid. I’ve always loved the feeling of scoring goals, and it’s almost become an addiction.

“You want to feel that feeling again and again every time you step on the pitch, and that’s something I’ve always had.”

Second, he has flourished under Ruben Amorim, and a reunion could pose serious problems for opponents.

Despite reports over the weekend claiming he had told United he would not be joining, Teamtalk has dismissed those claims.

The publication asserts that the former Coventry City striker remains United’s top striking target.

INEOS believe that, even without European football, Amorim’s influence on the Swedish striker could help them secure his signature.

Where does that leave Ekitike?

As for Ekitike, who is coming off a campaign in which he produced 22 goals and 12 assists across 48 games, Teamtalk suggest he is merely a backup transfer option.

The 20-time English champions’ discussions with the former Paris Saint-Germain forward’s camp and Eintracht Frankfurt over the weekend underscored their determination to land a high-quality striker.

While it may have been a ploy by INEOS to grab the attention of Gyokeres’ camp, Ekitike could serve as an ideal alternative should they fail to land their primary target.

Regardless of whether it is Gyökeres or Ekitike, United fans can take confidence in INEOS’s determination to finally secure a striker who finds the back of the net with ease.

Feature image Gualter Fatia via Getty Images

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