Man United could have an ideal transfer gift for Viktor Gyokeres - but there is a catch

Viktor Gyokeres might feel like a pipe dream for Manchester United, at this stage, but speculation on the Sporting CP sensation has reached fever pitch since Ruben Amorim took over as head coach.

Amorim is preparing for his first game in charge against Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon. As for Sporting, not to mention Gyokeres, the dust is yet to settle on Amorim's high-profile departure.

Plucked from Championship side Coventry City last summer, Gyokeres has been nothing short of a revelation with Sporting, plundering a staggering 66 goals in 68 matches for the Portuguese outfit in all competitions. The forward has also provided 19 assists in that time and his meteoric rise is down, in no small part, to Amorim himself.

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Ongoing links with United are natural - if fanciful at this stage. Lingering FFP caution makes any such deal difficult to strike-up - let alone during the January transfer window - and in any case United have splashed out on Rasmus Hojlund and Netherlands international Joshua Zirkzee in back-to-back summer windows.

Of course, things might change further down the line. After watching Gyokeres stun Manchester City with a hat-trick in their Champions League showdown this month, it ought only to be a matter of time before the Swede is picked up by one of Europe's elite teams, no matter the cost for his (almost) guaranteed goals.

"It's very sad that he's leaving, but of course we understand his decision," said Gyokeres when he was pressed on Amorim to United during November's international break. "He has of course meant a lot, considering that he gave me that chance and that he made me develop so much."

The 26-year-old added: "He [Amorim] probably has some strikers there already, so we'll see. He hasn't [contacted me], it's fun but nothing I attach any importance to because it's talk and nothing concrete."

Perhaps an amber if not red light, at this juncture, but links will understandably go on (and on).

With plenty of ifs, buts and maybes to tackle before Gyokeres to United really gathers pace, the Premier League giants might just have an ideal transfer gift waiting for him. And no it's not the No.9 shirt he wears for Sporting as that was re-assigned to Hojlund at United this summer when Anthony Martial left.

The shirt numbers currently up for grabs at United include; No.13, No.19, No.26, No.27, No.28. No.29 and No.30. One alternative option which could take his fancy, though, is the No.42 he previously wore with Brighton - but judging by his (many) past choices Gyokeres is not particularly too fussy like some modern-day footballers.

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