Man Utd have three striker alternatives if Viktor Gyokeres deal falls through

Attackers have been the flavour of the summer for Manchester United so far, with Matheus Cunha already through the door and a deal for Bryan Mbeumo edging closer. It's for good reason too, considering United finished the Premier League campaign as the side with the fifth fewest goals last season.

Even after Cunha and Mbeumo though, it's been mooted that United will push to sign an out-and-out striker, with Viktor Gyokeres having emerged as the priority target. But, with Sporting seemingly not budging from their hefty valuation and Champions League outfit Arsenal also pushing for a move, United could be forced to look elsewhere. Should that prove the case, Express Sport offer up three realistic Gyokeres alternatives.

Ollie Watkins - Aston Villa

It's the most obvious place for United to turn to. A Premier League-proven goalscorer, who has previously expressed frustration with Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, it would be no surprise to see United turn to Ollie Watkins. Given he turns 30 at the end of the month, he doesn't quite have the same longevity as Gyokeres or other potential striker purchases, but with that, Watkins carries plenty of experience at the top-flight level that could help him make an immediate impact. Plus, Watkins is an Englishman, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe having previously stated he intends to fill United's squad with the best British talent.

Samuel Omorodion - Porto

United know exactly what Samuel Omorodion is capable of, given they were on the end of a devastating performance during a Europa League clash with Porto last season. The 2004-born star, who came close to joining Chelsea last summer, netted two goals during a crazy 3-3 draw in the competition's 2024/25 league phase. That form carried on throughout the campaign, with Samu ending the season with 27 goals in 45 matches across all competitions. He's unlikely to come cheap, but could prove a worthwhile investment, if the 21-year-old continues on his current trajectory.

Darwin Nunez - Liverpool

Now, don't laugh... at least not just yet. But when you're looking at strikers who would thrive under Amorim's style of play, there's a case to be made that Darwin Nunez fits the bill. United are a more open side who play on the transition, compared to the possession-based approach installed by Arne Slot at Liverpool. It's easy to forget that Nunez was one of the hottest prospects in Europe when he joined Liverpool in 2022, but what's to say that form doesn't return when he's put into a system that plays to his strengths?