Rio Ferdinand sets ultimatum for Man Utd as Arsenal advance with Viktor Gyokeres deal, ‘I’ll be disappointed if…’

Manchester United are in the hunt for a new striker this summer as Ruben Amorim aims to address some of the problems that existed last season.

Ruben Amorim will be demanding better results on the pitch when the 2025/26 season begins. Last season, Manchester United lost the Europa League final and finished 15th in the Premier League.

It made for a difficult first six months for Amorim as United head coach, but Ineos can ensure they back him in the transfer market to make his job easier next term.

Matheus Cunha was the first summer signing, arriving from Wolves in a deal worth £62.5 million. He was joined by recruit Diego Leon as pre-season preparations began on Monday morning.

The Red Devils are now trying to complete a deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo, but first, they must reach an agreement with Brentford for the Cameroon international.

United fans are also eager to see Amorim sign a new striker after watching Rasmus Hojlund struggle to lead the line, scoring 26 goals since moving to Old Trafford two years ago.

This has led to United being linked with several strikers in the transfer market.

Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images

Rio Ferdinand will be disappointed if Man Utd miss out on Victor Osimhen

Although United have been strongly linked with a move for Sporting CP talisman Viktor Gyokeres, reports suggest Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign the highly-rated Sweden international.

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It will come as a blow to Amorim, who worked closely with Gyokeres at Sporting, but Ineos have no other choice but to pursue alternative targets in the market.

Speaking to tennis star Nick Kyrgios for talkSPORT, former United defender Rio Ferdinand was asked to name his top target for United to sign this summer following the news they had missed out on Gyokeres.

Ferdinand, who has regularly urged United to sign Victor Osimhen, repeated his view on the Nigerian forward being the ideal fit for the Red Devils.

“I’m like a broken record,” Ferdinand said. “If anyone listens to my podcast, I’ve said Osimhen for a while now.

“He’s a centre-forward, he’s experienced, he knows how to score goals at the top level.

“I’ve seen today that Galatasaray have put a £50million bid in.

“I mean, £50m to get a top-class striker, one of the top strikers in the world, is absolute peanuts in today’s market.

“I’ll be disappointed if he goes to Galatasaray for that type of money when Man United are crying out for a No.9.”

Ferdinand was pressed on the topic of Arsenal beating United to the signing of Gyokeres.

He added: “I’ll be disappointed to miss out on Gyokeres if we don’t get a No. 9 in.

“But if we got Osimhen, then I wouldn’t be too concerned.”

Napoli turn down latest Osimhen offer

Reports in Italy suggest Galatasaray are pushing hard to sign Osimhen after enjoying a successful campaign with the striker last term.

Osimhen topped the goalscoring charts in Turkey as Galatasaray were crowned Super Lig champions.

Napoli are fully expected to sell Osimhen this summer. The 26-year-old striker has been on the club’s books since the summer of 2020 and was unable to secure a permanent switch away from Naples last year.

According to an updated report from Sky Sport Italia, Napoli have turned down Galatasaray’s opening bid for Osimhen.

Ferdinand will hope that United launch a pursuit to challenge Galatasaray for Osimhen’s signature.

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