Ruben Amorim is ready to start work as the new Manchester United boss and links with signing some of his Sporing starts were inevitable.
The final international break of 2024 is now upon us and Manchester United fans can’t wait for it to end.
When United return to Premier League action against Ipswich Town a week on Sunday, there will be a new man in the dugout.
United finalised a deal to appoint Ruben Amorim as Erik ten Hag’s replacement, raiding Sporting for their exciting young manager.
The 39-year-old was allowed to continue with Sporting until the international break and Amorim won his final game in charge of Sporting on Sunday.
Now in Manchester and ready to go, Amorim will coach United for the first time against Ipswich and will be desperate to start with a win.
President on Viktor Gyokeres to Manchester United
Amorim will be looking to learn as much as he can about his United players in a short space of the time.
The January transfer window is looming large and whilst big business is unlikely, Amorim will want to be prepared.
Speculation already surrounds signing some of Amorim’s Sporting stars, just as Ten Hag signed a number of his former Ajax players.
Playmaker Pedro Goncalves has been linked with United and Amorim is already interested in wonderkid Geovany Quenda.
Then there is Viktor Gyokeres, who has become one of the most in-demand strikers in Europe under Amorim.
The Swede has smashed 66 goals in 68 games since joining Sporting from Coventry City in 2023.
United fans have fallen in love with Gyokeres and a big-money move for the striker would not be a huge surprise as Amorim inherits United’s attacking issues.
Braga president Antonio Salvador – who gave Amorim his big coaching break – has now discussed ad deal for Gyokeres.
As quoted by Record, Salvador noted that Amorim believes in some players enormously and seemingly feels that he will try to sign somebody from Sporting.
That could be Gyokeres ‘or someone else’, but Salvador doubts that the striker is good enough to play for top European clubs.
Salvador added that he doesn’t even know whether Amorim will be able to secure Gyokeres or whether the striker would fancy a move to Old Trafford, but thinks he would slot into Amorim’s tactical approach at United.
“I don’t know. There are players that Ruben Amorim believes in to death. I don’t know if it will be Gyökeres or someone else, I think he is a great player, but I don’t think he plays for all the big European clubs,” said Salvador.
“In Ruben Amorim’s scheme he could play, but I’m not going to give an opinion right now, I don’t know if he is capable of getting him or if he will want to go there. He will have to be the one to respond,” he added.
Viktor Gyokeres stance on Manchester United transfer
Gyokeres will likely be on the move in 2025 having continued to smash goals in for Sporting.
United’s deal with Amorim opens the door to a potential move but Gyokeres may not be all that interested.
Reports in Portugal earlier this month suggested that Gyokeres does not want to join United.
It was suggested that Gyokeres feels United are too unstable and not the best move for his career.
Amorim may be able to tempt Gyokeres given their relationship at Sporting but a move to Old Trafford is far from a formality ahead of the January window.
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