Six Strikers Manchester United could sign instead of Victor Gyokeres
After the news circulating today about Frederico Verandas, president of Sporting CP, and his defiant claims about Victor Gyokeres, it may be time for Manchester United to take their search for a striker elsewhere. Gyokeres, 27, scored 54 goals and delivered 13 assists last season for the Portuguese side on their way to the title, but more than £59m is a lot of money for Manchester United to pay this summer, particularly when a midfielder is needed as well as a center forward.
Ruben Amorim is familiar with Gyokeres, having done big things with the Swedish striker the season before last on their way to a title, but for the type of money being touted in regard to getting him away from Sporting, United could very well put that towards getting a cheaper striker who could be close to being as effective, as well as putting some funds towards a much-needed new midfielder.
Here’s a look at six strikers United could target instead of Gyokeres.
Evann Guessand
Some may suggest this is a bold one, but Evann Guessand has talent in abundance and could bring a new dynamic to United’s attack for a really fair fee. His twelve goals in Ligue 1 may not stand out as someone who could lead the line for United, particularly with the issues in front of goal last season, but with near-guaranteed goals coming from Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, Guessand could be a smart target to slot into the centre-forward spot and take the pressure off Rasmus Hojlund, as well as Joshua Zirkzee.
Negotiations for his signature would be relatively easy considering INEOS owns OGC Nice, and at 23 years old, the striker has the right blend of youth and relative experience that could stand to him in the coming years. He is versatile as well, playing in a number of positions across the frontline, which could be beneficial to Amorim’s United next season.
Ante Budimir
A seasoned veteran who can’t stop scoring for Osasuna over the last two seasons and someone who could help Rasmus Hojlund grow if Manchester United are fully set to back the Danish striker and try to drag him out of the current rut he is in in a red shirt. Budimir finished as the third top scorer for Osasuna last season, scoring 21 goals in the league, only bettered by Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe.
Injuries have also been an issue for the Reds, with reliability being an underrated trait, but Budemir’s signings could alleviate some of that, with the Croatian playing over 30 games in the league over the last three campaigns, which is an impressive return for a player his age. It’s a long shot, and many may suggest a club like United should be shopping a bit higher, but that hasn’t really paid them any favors in recent seasons, and a signing like Budemir could be a very smart purchase for a club in need of guidance, experience, and goals.
Jean-Phillipe Mateta
A pretty obvious one, but someone Manchester United should be queuing right up to land him, particularly if the rumoured price tag of £35-40m is anything to be believed. Mateta is Premier League proven, and considering that seems to be the mantra INEOS are aiming for this season, the Frenchman makes perfect sense from a price and overall player perspective for United. With 30 Premier League goals in two seasons, more than any other Manchester United player, the Palace forward brings goals, physical power, and pace.
Gyokeres may be the dream target for the club, made difficult by the price, but there’s an argument Mateta should have been the one they made prime target number one. Gyokeres has done amazing things in Portugal, but as Darwin Nunez proved, that does not always translate over to the Premier League. For a team that has been burnt shopping abroad so much in recent seasons, signing three players in forward positions who have scored goals consistently in the league they need to improve in should be a no-brainer recruitment-wise.
Serhou Guirassy
Manchester United wanted Serhou Guirassy before he signed for Borussia Dortmund, and they should be the ones to pry the Guinea international away from the Bundesliga this season. Many felt the forward’s performances at Stuttgart the season before were a purple patch from an xG perspective, but after 21 goals last season for the side with the Yellow Wall, Guirassy has proved he is not a one-season wonder.
Guirassy was on the list last season, and there would be no surprises if Ruben Amorim’s Sporting had a look at the 29-year-old before he left the club for Manchester United in November, and the United manager would have been watching in February when Guirassy scored against his former club in the Champions League.
He represents a complementary profile for an Amorim system, at a much cheaper price than Gyokeres.
Victor Boniface
Boniface would present a risk due to the fact he does have a huge history of missed games due to some pretty glaring injuries during his time at Bodo Glimt, but there’s no doubting the Nigerian is near enough everything you could wish to hope for in a 24-year-old striker when he is on form. Leverkusen, and Erik ten Hag in particular, would take some persuading to allow the forward to leave, but with a reported price tag of around £45m, he represents a striker United must pursue if a deal for Gyokeres is to fall through.
Injuries at times affected his flow this season, but he did still manage to score 11 goals in all competitions for Leverkusen.
Yoane Wissa
Manchester United are already in constant conversations with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo, but why not try a question regarding Yoane Wissa? With 31 goals in two Premier League seasons and more goals for Brentford in the Premier League than Ivan Toney managed, Wissa is criminally underrated and deserves a lot more flowers in the league than he currently gets.
Again, it sounds cliché, but ‘Premier League proven’ means something. This league is a different beast. Not everyone can replicate their skills in this division, and a lot needs to be said for those who are already in the league doing it consistently, particularly at teams that create a lot fewer chances than the final form version of Ruben Amorim’s side that United fans will be expecting to see.
Food for thought, but these six strikers could absolutely improve Manchester United going into next season.
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