The road to redemption has begun for Manchester United. After yet another shaky start to their season, the Red Devils finally took charge and sacked Erik ten Hag, replacing the Dutchman with Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim. While their new manager is expected to arrive at the end of the week, United has already started evaluating potential transfer targets. However, in an unfortunate turn of events, they may have already encountered their first setback on that front.

The blow comes in the form of Sporting CP star Viktor Gyökeres. As per the reports from the Portuguese newspaper Record, the Swedish international is not interested in following in the footsteps of Amorim at Old Trafford. Instead, the 26-year-old center-forward is expected to stay with the Lions not just in January but even for the latter transfer windows.

In fact, the striker himself addressed these recent rumors; “Going with Amorim to Man United? I don’t know, I’m here. I really like being here, it’s not something I think about. I’m enjoying it here. I’m sad about him leaving. We wish him all the best,” he said during the presser after he had scored 4 goals during his side’s 5-1 win over Estrela da Amadora.

Of course, it’d be only natural to see speculation about a few Sporting CP stars also flying with Amorim to England as a part of his rebuild project for United. Just like Ten Hag brought his own stock from Ajax throughout his stint. Then again, Viktor Gyökeres isn’t keen to follow this idea, as he rather desires to stay at the José Alvalade Stadium.

This surely comes out to be an enormous blow for United, who were rather looking forward to his services. Having notched 63 goals and 19 assists in 66 games after just arriving at Sporting last summer, Gyokeres would have emerged as a potent signing. Acquiring the Swede would have helped the English side rectify their goal-scoring woes after scoring only nine goals in 10 league matches.

The misfortune doesn’t end there as Gyokores was not the only one who denied a move to the ‘Theater of Dreams’. Even Ruben Amorim isn’t open to the idea of bringing any of his Sporting CP stars for the time being!

Ruben Amorim clears his January transfer window stance with a saddening claim for Manchester United fans

Not to mention that bringing a player like Viktor Gyökeres would require the Red Devils to break the bank, something which Amorim is already aware of. “I’m not going to get any players from Sporting in January,” he said during the presser. “Gyokeres costs €100million and it’s very difficult.” Interestingly, Viktor Gyokeres isn’t alone to have been linked with the United move. Centre-back duo of Ousmane Diomande and Goncalo Inacio, club skipper cum defensive midfielder Morten Hjulmand and youngster teenage sensation Geovany Quenda are a few of the names that are on Man United’s radar.

Either way, triggering Ruben Amorim’s €10m ($10.8m) release clause was the only option for Manchester United now. Perhaps, we may see some arrivals in next year’s transfer window.