At this point, the most frequently linked transfer target to Manchester United is none other than new manager Ruben Amorim’s biggest star at Sporting CP, striker Viktor Gyokeres.
The 26-year-old was phenomenal in his previous two campaigns, including in the Championship with Coventry, but he’s truly blossomed in 2024/25 with five goals in four Champions League fixtures and a whopping 16 goals in 11 league matches for Sporting.
After a signature hat trick against Manchester City, Gyokeres is the hottest name on the transfer market in general, and Manchester United won’t be the only big club in Europe eyeing the sharpshooting No. 9.
However, Manchester United already signed a second striker this past summer in Joshua Zirkzee to pair with Rasmus Hojlund, and Marcus Rashford could be used in a two-man front if Amorim utilizes a 3-5-2 formation as his first at Old Trafford.
Gyokeres will cost upwards of 60 million pounds, and while Manchester United should strongly consider eschewing one of their underperforming forwards for the Swedish international, there’s no guarantee they will do that.
While Gyokeres looks like the biggest possible signing Manchester United could make in summer 2025 when Amorim’s self-imposed embargo of Sporting CP players is lifted, his most obvious signing for the Red Devils isn’t actually a Sporting player.
Manchester United, even prior to Amorim’s appointment, were being heavily linked with Benfica left back Alvaro Fernandez Carreras, arguably the most in-demand left back on the transfer market after Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies.
Although Davies is set to be a free agent in summer 2025, Carreras will have much cheaper wages and bonuses, and even though he is also coveted by Liverpool and Real Madrid, Manchester United, not Madrid, have the leg up between the two former clubs of his.
That’s because Manchester United have a 16 million pound buy back clause for the 21-year-old fullback, which is a bargain value and substantially below the price that the others would have to pay.
Carreras had his own big Champions League night against Atletico Madrid and has been enjoying a splendid breakout season for Benfica, with Amorim undoubtedly watching the player closely.
Manchester United don’t have a sure-fire option at left back. Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are flawed, injury-prone players who don’t project as regular starters for a team with Champions League ambitions.
Meanwhile, Carreras, at 21, is already proving he is a starting-caliber left back in the Champions League with an average of 1.8 dribbles completed and nearly 5 combined tackles and interceptions per game in European football’s premier competition.
Because Manchester United have such a big need at left back and because Carreras is a young standout at a scarce position with a discounted price tag, it is the former Castilla product who is the most obvious addition for Amorim in summer 2025 and not Gyokeres, as splashy as the striker may be.
