Man Utd have 'friendship pact' with striker already in talks with Arsenal | OneFootball

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim's so-called "friendship pact" with Viktor Gyokeres could boost the club's chances of signing the Sporting CP striker this summer.

Gyokeres joined Amorim's Sporting in 2023 and, having never previously played top flight football at that stage of his career, has become one of the most talked-about forwards in Europe thanks to a goal return of 85 in 92 appearances across all competitions.

The Swede has been linked with numerous top clubs all season, with Arsenal now reported to be taking a stronger interest following the appointment of new sporting director Andrea Berta.

Rumours regarding a potential switch to Old Trafford have persisted, usually underpinned by Gyokeres' prior relationship with Amorim.

Sky Sport in Switzerland claim that Arsenal have wasted little time following Berta's arrival and are "already" in contact with the Gyokeres camp, with the most senior Gunners officials said to have given Berta the guarantees he needs regarding the financing of any deal.

Gyokeres flourished under Ruben Amorim's guidance / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages

But the same report cites "several sources" to state that Gyokeres had earlier "given his word" to Amorim about following the coach to Manchester this summer. Equally, that "friendship pact" alone, while certainly a helpful addition in the club's efforts to recruit, may not be enough to dictate the transfer saga when an uncompetitive United will almost certainly have to win the Europa League to have any chance of offering European football next season.

United know from recent experience that the Amorim factor isn't strong enough by itself to attract his former Sporting players. Winger Geovany Quenda, heavily tipped to arrive at Old Trafford and help revolutionise the coach's 3-4-2-1 system, has already signed with Chelsea instead.

As well as Gyokeres in the hunt for a new striker, United are also heavily linked with Hugo Ekitike and Liam Delap, both younger and potentially cheaper talents with the potential to spend a decade or more at Old Trafford. Ekitike has recently admitted growing up a United fan, but Ipswich Town are determined not to be bullied by bigger clubs over Delap, despite impending relegation.