BREAKING NEWS: Viktor Gyokeres, a striker for Sporting CP, is expected to join Manchester United in January following the appointment of Ruben Amorim as the team’s new manager.

After Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick to help Ruben Amorim’s Sporting CP hand Manchester City their heaviest defeat since 2020, the Swedish forward has become a hot topic.

This 4-0 victory was particularly memorable for Amorim, who led Sporting when they suffered a 5-0 Champions League loss to City in Lisbon in 2022. Meanwhile, on the same night, Gyokeres was playing for Coventry City in a 2-0 defeat against Cardiff City.

Gyokeres scored 43 goals in 116 games for Coventry, catching Amorim’s attention and eventually securing a £20 million transfer to Sporting in 2023. His agent later noted, “I only got Gyokeres to Sporting because of Ruben Amorim.”

With this recent performance, it’s natural to link Gyokeres to Manchester United, especially after his hat-trick against City. However, both Gyokeres and Amorim have downplayed any potential transfer to United, with Amorim mentioning the player’s significant £83.9 million release clause.

Last week, Amorim told reporters, “I will not take any of Sporting’s players in January,” emphasizing that Gyokeres has a €100 million price tag, making any deal complex.

This situation also poses a challenge for Manchester United and Dan Ashworth, who was Brighton & Hove Albion’s technical director when Gyokeres was sold to Coventry for £1 million in 2021. Coventry later made a £19 million profit on him and now stands to gain more through a 15% sell-on clause in his Sporting contract, which drops to 10% if he meets certain performance targets.

Given this arrangement, Sporting may aim to hold out for an even higher transfer fee, mindful of Coventry’s share in any future sale.

Viktor Gyokeres’ standout performance against Manchester City has indeed boosted his profile, especially given his journey from Coventry City to Sporting CP under Ruben Amorim. His impressive record at Coventry, where he scored 43 goals in 116 games, caught Amorim’s attention and led to a £20 million move to Sporting in 2023. Now, with a reported €100 million (£83.9 million) release clause, Gyokeres has become a sought-after name but remains a challenging target due to his price and Amorim’s reluctance to part with him mid-season.

Manchester United fans and their sporting director Dan Ashworth, who was at Brighton when Gyokeres was sold for a modest £1 million, are closely watching this situation. Coventry, having made a £19 million profit on his initial sale, also holds a sell-on clause of up to 15% in Gyokeres’ Sporting contract, which may reduce if he hits performance milestones. This means that any sale could be financially complex, with Sporting likely to push for a high fee to offset Coventry’s share.

While both Gyokeres and Amorim have downplayed transfer rumors, Gyokeres’ recent heroics make him an intriguing player for Manchester United, especially as the club seeks more attacking power. However, unless Sporting’s stance softens or United are willing to meet the high release clause, a January move remains unlikely.