Ruben Amorim usually stays fairly quiet about Manchester United’s transfer targets but he spoke openly about Viktor Gyokeres this week.
It is no secret that Manchester United are in the market for a top-class striker this summer after enduring a season of struggles in front of goal.
Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres has been linked with United ever since Ruben Amorim became head coach.
Amorim is keen to reunite with Gyokeres at Old Trafford after they enjoyed a wonderful partnership together in Portugal. Viktor Gyokeres scored 66 goals in 68 games under Amorim.
However, amid reports that Gyokeres wants Champions League football, Amorim made it extremely clear that is not the kind of player he will pursue.
Ruben Amorim is avoiding Jadon Sancho mistake with Viktor Gyokeres
In the pre-match press conference before United’s crucial Athletic Club showdown, Amorim said Gyokeres ‘won’t come’ to United if his only desire is to play in the Champions League.
“We want players who want to represent United, not players who want to play certain competitions,” Amorim said.
An incredibly bold statement, but one that fans should be completely aligned with.
United have recruited terribly over the past decade, and fans have seen far too many players down tools once things aren’t going to plan.
Jadon Sancho will go down as one of United’s biggest-ever flops after he arrived for £73m from Borussia Dortmund in 2021.
As reported by The Sun, Jadon Sancho only wanted to join United if they qualified for the Champions League – sound familiar?
United ended up chasing Sancho for well over a year before getting a deal over the line, only for the winger to throw his toys out the pram when things didn’t go to plan.
After a fall-out with Erik ten Hag, he now finds himself out on loan at Chelsea – his performances can be summed up by the fact that the Blues are considering paying £5m to return Sancho in the summer.
Ruben Amorim and Ineos are getting recruitment right
There has been a noticeable shift in transfer strategy since Ineos came on board, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s philosophy being to find the ‘next Mbappe’ rather than sign ready-made stars for big money fees.
Making sure players have the right attitude and are the right fit for the club has to be a top priority when it comes to recruitment.
Gary Neville insists that Old Trafford has become a “graveyard” for talented players, but much of that is down to the lack of direction at United in recent years.
READ MORE: Man Utd could sign Gyokeres 2.0 for less than half the price, he might be even better
Since the takeover, Ineos’ recruitment has been flawess, and many if not all of the signings from the summer and January windows have immediately improved the squad.
If Ineos sense that Gyokeres is not wholly set on joining United this summer, then the recruitment team should look elsewhere.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
