Man United left 'surprised' after hearing Viktor Gyokeres transfer admission

Man United left 'surprised' after hearing Viktor Gyokeres transfer admission

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres will reunite with Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford this weekend as the Premier League returns

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres pictured ahead of the new Premier League season (Image: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Manchester United were reportedly left surprised after hearing suggestions that Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres was hurt by the lack of interest in him from the Reds this summer.

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During his time at Sporting Lisbon, the Swede became a talisman as he scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for the club. Most of those goals were bagged while Ruben Amorim was in the hot seat at the Portuguese club.

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However, when the Reds swooped in to hire Amorim following Erik ten Hag's departure, the rumour mill soon began. With United needing a new No.9, it was expected that they would bid for Gyokeres.

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Said bid never arrived with MEN Sport understanding that United felt it would be futile to move for the striker as his heart was set on the Emirates Stadium. However, the Daily Mail has reported on Saturday evening that they were taken aback when Gyokeres felt disappointed that his old boss did not try to sign him.

In his pre-match press conference at Carrington, Amorim was quizzed on Gyokeres but decided to keep his reply brief. "That is a question for Mikel [Arteta]," he explained.

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"Viktor is in a different league. Sporting have good scouting because they live from the players they can buy and sell to survive.

"I think he’s a very good player. It’s not a surprise to see him with a big club in England."

Of course, United would eventually splash the cash on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko who, ironically enough, was a target for Arsenal both this year and last. Speaking on his new centre-forward, Amorim said: "I think he has great potential in everything he does.

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"He can play different types of football. He's going to feel that the Premier League is really aggressive, he's going to learn, but he has a great potential and I can see Ben being a striker for Manchester United for a lot of years.

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"That's why we paid so much money - to have a striker that will have his history in our club. The guy is always thinking about football.

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"He's really obsessed by that and that is a good thing because you don't have to think about that aspect with that young guy. I don't need to tell Ben: 'This is Manchester United, a lot of pressure, you have to perform, you need to be ready for the physicality, we need to be ready for every game, it's like do-or-die'.

"With that guy, I have not that concern. I have the opposite, [he needs to] enjoy [himself] a little bit.

"He's listening, and he wants to perform, so that is really good."

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