Ruben Amorim ‘tells Man United board he wants to sign No 1 target NOW rather than wait until the summer’ with Red Devils boss eager to strengthen under-firing squad despite limited funds

  • Ruben Amorim is reportedly desperate to improve his side in the January window
  • United are only seven points above the relegation zone after nineteen league matches
  • LISTEN NOW: It all starts! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism is gone at Old Trafford

Ruben Amorim has told Manchester United chiefs he cannot wait until the summer to sign Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, a report has revealed.

The Sporting Lisbon forward has scored notable goals under the Red Devils boss at the Portuguese giants and has been linked with a move to Old Trafford amid the club’s recent woes.

United could see both Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee leave the club in the January transfer window, with the former keen to seek pastures new. The Dutchman has struggled to establish himself since his summer transfer.

After the Red Devils’ 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Monday – their ninth league match – Amorim indicated he would not be able to improve his squad this winter, saying: ‘We don’t have that opportunity in January.’

However, according to the Daily starthe Portuguese has now informed club bosses that acquiring Gyokeres this month is a necessity.

The 26-year-old left Championship club Coventry earlier last year on a £20million contract following the club’s second division play-off final defeat to Luton.

Manchester United have continued to struggle this season following the appointment of Ruben Amorim in November

Viktor Gyokeres became one of Europe's deadliest marksmen at Sporting Lisbon under the Portuguese boss's leadership

Viktor Gyokeres became one of Europe’s deadliest marksmen at Sporting Lisbon under the Portuguese boss’s leadership

United will reportedly have to offload players before adding them in January. Pictured: co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe

United will reportedly have to offload players before adding them in January. Pictured: co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe

But a move to Old Trafford would earn the club around £80million due to a release clause in his contract.

Reports in recent weeks have claimed that United will have to offload players before they can bring in new talent. In addition to the attacking positions, the team is in urgent need of full-backs who fit into Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.

Last month, Gyokeres fueled speculation of a move to the Premier League when he expressed his desire to play in the English top flight.

‘Naturally [moving to Sporting] was different because I had the goal of playing in the Premier League,” he told Swedish Daily.

‘That was my focus and the adjustment was difficult… but I thought about it, I talked to people around me who helped me a lot.

‘It started to look more and more like it was the right choice: playing in a top team and getting more opportunities during matches.

“In the end it seems to have been the best choice for me”

Amorim had previously denied suggestions that he would launch an attack on his former club for Gyokeres any time soon, but the severity of United’s situation may have led to a change of heart.

The club’s top scorers this season are Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, who have not played since early December, with four goals. Monday’s defeat to the Magpies saw the club drop to within seven points of relegation, finishing in 14th place.

The Red Devils face league leaders Liverpool for the FA Cup third round tie against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.


Arsenal contact unhappy Real Madrid star over potential loan move