Manchester United legend Gary Pallister is keen to see the Red Devils bring a star-studded player who could find the Premier League to be the real “test” for him.
The Red Devils have endured a lacklustre 2024-25 Premier League campaign and have already seen the departure of former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
Erik ten Hag was dismissed in late October after United’s poor start to the season and Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge of United for a four-match interim spell.
Following the start of the November international break, Ruud van Nistelrooy left Old Trafford and Ruben Amorim officially arrived at United from Sporting CP.
Ruben Amorim inked a deal until June 2027 and the former Sporting CP manager faces an uphill task in challenging for a top-four spot this season.
United are 13th in the Premier League table and the Red Devils are eight points off from the top four amid their race for Champions League football.
Pallister watched Man Utd-linked player
Ruben Amorim is widely expected to make sweeping changes to the Manchester United first-team squad that he inherited from Erik ten Hag.
The 39-year-old Portuguese manager has already been linked to players at former side Sporting CP, including star striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Viktor Gyokeres arrived at Sporting CP from Coventry City in 2023 and the 26-year-old Swedish striker has been in a stunning run of form for the Portuguese side.
The Sporting CP star, who is under contract until 2028, has netted an impressive 68 times in 73 appearances since his move from Coventry City.
United legend Gary Pallister admitted that he watched Gyokeres at Coventry City and found that he “caused a lot of problems” at Championship level.
“I saw him quite a lot at Coventry when they challenged Middlesbrough a couple of seasons ago,” he told Swedish outlet FotbollDirekt.
“At Championship level, he caused a lot of problems. I wasn’t a hundred per cent sure at the end if he could make it into the Premier League.
“I know the Portuguese top flight is not the same as the Premier League but it sounds like he has actually improved since he was there and that is why he has been talked about.”
Pallister wants Gyokeres transfer to Man Utd
According to BBC Sport, United-linked Viktor Gyokeres has a whopping £83.16m release clause in his Sporting CP contract.
The publication reported that Sporting CP would demand a hefty fee in the region of £62.37m to £70.68m before letting their talisman leave the Primeira Liga side.
Gyokeres played under Amorim when the United manager was at Sporting CP and the Red Devils have been heavily linked with the Sweden international.
“He has the physique to play in the Premier League and he knows how to score goals,” Pallister added.
“It’s just playing against better defenders week in and week out, which will probably be the test for him.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/wsQEfB6