Man Utd and Arsenal told £63m transfer target is ‘from another world’ | Football

Manchester United and Arsenal have been told one of their key transfer targets is ‘from another world’.

The Premier League giants have both expressed interest in signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon this summer.

With 40 goals in 41 matches this season, Gyokeres is one of the most prolific strikers in Europe.

The 26-year-old enjoyed similar success in front of goal last term, netting 43 times during his first campaign in Portugal following a move from Championship side Coventry City.

Both Man United and Arsenal look in desperate need of a striker and have been told key target Gyokeres is ‘from another world’ by one of his Sporting Lisbon teammates.

Speaking to FlashScore, Spanish defender Ivan Fresneda said: ‘He always needs to score goals, he gets frustrated if he doesn’t. He’s a machine in games, in training, in life. He’s a star from another world.

‘He’s on another level. He’s a very complete player because he’s physically strong, he’s fast, he’s powerful, he’s got a shot, but that’s not all.

‘The quality he has, his height, his physical strength. You try to find a player like that and in today’s football, I don’t see many like him, who are so physically strong and then have quality.’

Asked if he was surprised some of the biggest clubs in the world were weighing up moves for Gyokeres, Fresneda added: ‘Not at all, no.

‘He’s always the same. What people see in the game is what we see in training. A lot of people have talked about him and nothing changes, he’s the same every day.’

Manchester United spent over £100m on attacking duo Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee but both have endured dismal seasons at Old Trafford.

United were thought to hold an advantage in the race to sign Gyokeres due to his relationship with former manager and current Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim.

But recent reports suggest Gyokeres intends to join a Champions League if he does indeed leave Sporting at the end of the season.

Sitting 13th in the Premier League with just 37 points from 29 games, the top-four places are beyond the reach of United, although they will still sneak into the Champions League if they manage to win the Europa League ahead of a quarter-final tie with Lyon.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will surely sign a new striker this summer after their decision not to do so during the January transfer window backfired.

The Gunners were linked with several forwards – and even made a bid for England’s Ollie Watkins – but failed to bolster Mikel Arteta’s attacking options.

Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League for the first time since 2004 have all but ended since the window closed, with Arteta’s side slipping 12 points behind champions-elect Liverpool.

Gyokeres is believed to be open to a move to the Emirates Stadium but Arsenal have also expressed interest in Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen.

Rio Ferdinand verdict on Viktor Gyokeres

Despite Gyokeres’ incredible goalscoring record, Rio Ferdinand doubts he would thrive in the Premier League.

The Manchester United legend and former England defender said: ‘I don’t think he’s the guy.

‘I’ve not watched him loads but I’ve probably watched him three times really, really closely.

‘Three times I’ve watched him and I’ve gone, he ain’t getting those opportunities in the Premier League. When I see him physically matched, I don’t see it. What else is there?

‘That’s the questions I’m asking. Is there enough after he’s physically matched to get a goal? Physicality is a massive thing in the game today.

‘A Ruben Amorim team need physicality and runners but there’s no real physicality in this squad. It just isn’t there.’

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