Viktor Gyokeres’ Sporting CP team-mate has sent Ruben Amorim a clear message to sign the striker – by claiming he would guarantee Manchester United goals.

Gyokeres has been in scintillating form since his 2023 move to the Portuguese Primeira Liga, having been signed by Amorim when he was in charge of Sporting. In that time, the Swedish striker has netted 74 goals in 79 matches, while staggeringly averaging over a goal per game this season.

That has unsurprisingly attracted attention from Europe’s biggest clubs, including United, who are currently struggling without a world class striker. However, the Daily Star reported this week that Amorim’s hopes of being reunited with Gyokeres have been dealt a blow, with German giants Bayern Munich joining the race to sign him.

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Despite only signing Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur 18 months ago in a £100million deal, Bayern have held initial talks over signing Gyokeres and are willing to pay the £80m release clause in his contract. It remains to be seen when the Bundesliga giants plan to buy him.

Still, Gyokeres’ current team-mate Maximiliano Araujo’s recent comments highlighted just how good the 26-year-old is, which in turn could reassure the Red Devils hierarchy that his signature is worth battling it out for.

“We know that with a striker like Viktor [Gyokeres], we will almost always score goals,” Araujo said after Gyokeres scored the only goal of the game to knock rivals Porto out of the Portuguese League Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.

Former Brighton, Swansea City and Coventry City forward Gyokeres went from strength to strength under Amorim’s guidance before the head coach’s move to United in November. It is understood that their connection would hand Amorim an advantage once the summer transfer window opens.

A move in January seems to be out of the question as many clubs, including United, battle to stay on the right side of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) restrictions. Amorim had also pledged that he would not sign any players from Sporting in the January transfer window.

The Old Trafford club has been handed an incentive to wait until the end of the season, however, with Record Portugal reporting that Gyokeres and Sporting have a gentleman's agreement to allow the striker to leave the club for as little as between £58.6m and £62.8m.

Such an agreement has also been hinted at in the past. It was previously stated that Gyokeres would be allowed a move for less than his £83m release clause should he stay at the club for the remainder of the season.

But with Bayern now reportedly interested, United could miss out on Gyokeres if he decides to prioritise playing Champions League football next season. The Reds are currently 13th in the Premier League table and are 13 points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, as well as 12 behind fifth-placed Newcastle.