Manchester United encountered a setback in their pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City during the derby held at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Despite initially taking the lead through Marcus Rashford, United conceded to a second-half brace from Phil Foden and a stoppage-time goal from Erling Haaland.
Consequently, Manchester United now find themselves trailing by 11 points behind the Champions League qualification positions with 11 matches remaining in the current season. The victories of Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur over the weekend further compounded United’s aspirations, though their top-four competitors are set to face off at Villa Park in the upcoming weekend.
Looking ahead, while the season is far from concluded, discussions have already begun to shift towards the summer transfer window. Manchester United has been linked with several potential signings, particularly in the striker department.
According to reports from The Independent, Manchester United is reportedly considering a move for Victor Osimhen from Napoli. The publication suggests that the Reds are among the primary contenders alongside Paris Saint-Germain to secure the signature of the Nigerian international, with his release clause set at €110 million (£94 million) in his Napoli contract. PSG’s interest in a striker is further fueled by the expected departure of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid during the summer transfer window.
In addition, speculations have arisen regarding Manchester United’s interest in acquiring the services of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres. As per The Mirror, scouts from Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal were reportedly in attendance during Sporting’s Taca de Portugal match against Benfica, where Gyokeres scored his 31st goal of the season in all competitions.
Since joining Sporting from Coventry City last summer for a reported fee of £20 million, Gyokeres has made a notable impact, potentially prompting Sporting to demand a substantially higher fee for his departure during the upcoming transfer window. Both Sporting and Benfica players have been subjects of interest for Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea over the past few months.