Ruben Amorim has told Manchester United he cannot afford to wait until the summer and wants to sign Viktor Gyokeres in January, according to reports.
Amorim has endured a dismal start to his tenure as United manager, taking seven points from his first eight league games in charge.
A humbling 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United last time out condemned the Red devils to a third straight home defeat for the first time in 45 years, and ensured the club lost five league games in a calendar month for the first time since 1962.
Amorim has repeatedly said it will take time to turn the club around but even the 39-year-old, who arrived from Sporting Lisbon in November, must be surprised by the size of the task at hand.
Manchester United were heavily linked with a move for Sporting goalscoring sensation Gyokeres when Amorim decided to leave the Portuguese club and move to the Premier League.
Gyokeres flourished under Amorim, establishing himself as one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe with a remarkable 70 goals in 77 games.
The Sweden international was plucked from Championship side Coventry City in the summer of 2023 and scored 43 goals during his first season at Sporting.
Gyokeres has 27 in 27 games this term and scored a stunning hat-trick against Premier League champions Manchester City in the Champions League.
United were expected to see how the current season went ahead of potentially launching a move for Gyokeres next summer, with Amorim insisting he would not be signing any of his former Sporting players during the winter window.
But United’s dreadful form has seemingly forced Amorim to change his mind and, according to the Daily Star, he has instructed his bosses at Old Trafford to bring Gyokeres to the club this month.
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Gyokeres has a release clause worth £80m and Sporting Lisbon are expected to hold out for that amount if they do decide to sell the 26-year-old.
Arsenal have also been linked with Gyokeres as Mikel Arteta considers signing a new striker but Manchester United are believed to be leading the race due to the influence of Amorim.
United’s misfiring forwards have failed to score in their last three games, the Red Devils losing to Wolves and Bournemouth before the Newcastle defeat.
Rasmus Hojlund, who cost the Premier League giants more than £70m, has two goals in 14 league games this season, while summer signing Joshua Zirkzee has four in 26.
Amorim is reportedly open to offloading Zirkzee during the January transfer window, while Marcus Rashford has also declared himself ‘ready’ for a new challenge.
Struggling Manchester United face more daunting fixtures as they prepare to face Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday and then title-chasing Arsenal in the FA Cup.
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