Man Utd have struck gold on “shining light” who’s worth more than Gyokeres

For the 12th time in the Premier League this season, Manchester United – now residing in 13th in the table – failed to score last time out, having played out a drab goalless draw with rivals Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

With just seven games remaining in the league in 2024/25, United have currently scored just 37 goals, notably placing them behind 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have scored 43 times to date.

As was evident at the weekend, there is a clear lack of confidence and ruthlessness in the attacking third for the Old Trafford side, a point emphasised by the fact that Bruno Fernandes currently leads the way with just eight league goals.

Ruben Amorim’s senior strikers – in the form of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee – have netted just six times in the top-flight between them, a fact that has only heightened the need for a new number nine this summer.

Rumours are already rife regarding the potential targets who could solve United’s goalscoring woes, with Amorim seemingly keen on a reunion with Sporting CP sensation, Viktor Gyokeres, ahead of next season.

Latest on Man Utd’s interest in Gyokeres

Amorim must be tearing his hair out at the limp nature of his forward line at Old Trafford, not least having witnessed the breathtaking brilliance of that man Gyokeres back in Lisbon.

Indeed, the towering Swede scored 66 goals in just 68 games while working under the Portuguese coach, with the 26-year-old proving vital in last season’s title triumph, having netted 43 times in all competitions.

Unsurprisingly, there have been suggestions that Amorim is ready to raid his former club for the signing of the ex-Coventry City striker, with reports in recent days claiming that a bid may have even been lodged by the United hierarchy.

That said, The Athletic’s David Ornstein has also outlined that Premier League rivals Arsenal are pursuing a move for the prolific marksman, with the Gunners said to be ‘developing a strong interest’ in landing the Sporting talisman.

As for the Red Devils, journalist Laurie Whitwell – also of the The Athletic – did previously claim that a pursuit of Gyokeres could be ‘unlikely’ due to his age and the player’s own desire for Champions League football, throwing into a doubt the prospect of a renewed association with Amorim.

That could leave the 40-year-old having to look elsewhere to find his next centre-forward project, while among his current ranks, he could be able to mould another attacking superstar at the Theatre of Dreams.

The Man Utd star who’s worth even more than Gyokeres

As Amorim outlined following the Sunday stalemate, his side “need to improve in every aspect of the game”, having particularly highlighted the “final third” as a key point of concern.

That latest encounter saw the aforementioned Hojlund register just two touches in the opposition half – no, not penalty area – in the first half, a staggering statistic that represents the young Dane’s stark lack of impact.

On a day in which much of the United magic came from skipper, Bruno Fernandes, another “shining light” – as described by BBC pundit, Troy Deeney – was young Alejandro Garnacho, with the polarising Argentine at least attempting to make things happen for his side.

The 20-year-old had come under fire for his ‘naive’ performance against Nottingham Forest in midweek – in the view of MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst – although he looked lively throughout against City, having notably won an early foul just outside the area after racing in behind the visiting backline.

Even against Forest, while he did fire three shots off target, the former Atletico Madrid starlet looked like the only player – excluding Fernandes – capable of making something happen for his side in an attacking sense, with the likes of Zirkzee and Hojlund having been rather lifeless through the middle.

Of course, Garnacho – who was a target for Chelsea in January – is among those who United could cash in on this summer, but it would be a crying shame to sell a player who has shown so much promise over the last two years or so.

The star of an FA Youth Cup final and FA Cup final – having scored three goals across those two marquee games – the rampaging winger is still a young talent learning his trade, having perhaps even been overused amid the lack of other attacking alternatives.

Take Gyokeres, for instance, who at the age of 20 was merely operating in the Brighton youth ranks, having needed a string of loan spells and an eventual move to Coventry to ultimately find his feet at senior level.

Garnacho then should have ample time to reach his peak, with his sky high potential also highlighted by the fact that he is deemed to be worth around £83m, according to CIES Football Observatory, with Gyokeres, meanwhile, valued at ‘just’ £63m.

Fans and pundits alike may be losing patience with Garnacho due to the fact he has scored just twice since Amorim took charge, yet as the derby showcased, he is still a player capable of getting bums of seats. That certainly can’t be said for most at Old Trafford…