Manchester United have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres after Barcelona said they are not interested in the striker. The Sporting CP star is being eyed by several of Europe’s top sides ahead of a potential move in the summer, including the Red Devils.
Gyokeres, 26, is enjoying another extraordinary campaign for the Portuguese champions. He has caught the eye by scoring a whopping 66 goals in 68 appearances since joining Sporting from Coventry City in 2023, helping the club win the Primeira Liga last season under Ruben Amorim.
A recent hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League further highlighted his goal-scoring prowess, with reports claiming that Barcelona, Real Madrid, City and United are all interested.
With United appointing Amorim - the man who changed the Swede’s career - as their new manager this month, noise surrounding a potential move to Old Trafford has gained even more traction. And now Barcelona’s sporting director Deco has announced that the Spanish giants won’t look to sign him, handing United another boost.
"He is a good player, he has been scoring goals for a long time in Portugal," Deco told Mundo Deportivo. "We know him like others but he's not our priority at the moment.
“We're not looking for a No.9 to replace Robert [Lewandowski] because we want him to remain happy, scoring goals and at least stay for another season. We've won things, and he's happy to be here. We're not going to talk about any player now."
Gyokeres reportedly has an £83million release clause but could be available for a sum of just £63m, while United have also reportedly considered throwing in Joshua Zirkzee to sweeten the deal. However, any transfer would have to take place next summer rather than during the January window as Amorim has vowed not to raid his former club, at least until the end of the season.
As reported by A Bola, Amorim said: “I will not sign any Sporting player at Man United in January… then, what happens in the summer I don't know. Sporting players are good players. We will see what happens.”
Gyokeres has picked up from where he left off last season, scoring 23 goals in his first 18 appearances in all competitions this term. His prior experience in England came at Brighton, a brief loan spell with Swansea City and two-and-a-half seasons with Coventry.
