Transfer rumors, news: Gyökeres linked with Man United move - ESPN

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Viktor Gyökeres' hat trick in Sporting CP's 4-1 win over Manchester City on Tuesday has sent the rumor mill into overdrive, while Manchester United are considering a fresh move for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumours, and gossip from the world of soccer.

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- Manchester Evening News reports that Viktor Gyökeres is a possible Manchester United player of the future given his clear links to the fallen Premier League giants. The Sporting CP striker has excelled under the tutelage of soon-to-be United boss Rúben Amorim and bolstered his burgeoning reputation with a marvellous hat trick against Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday. Gyökeres, who played for Brighton & Hove Albion and Coventry City before joining Amorim in Portugal, will be well known to United sporting director Dan Ashworth as the two crossed paths when the executive was technical director at the Seagulls. Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison added more fuel to the fire later on Tuesday saying: "Man United will be looking to get the cheque book out for him."

- Liverpool are keeping an eye on three left-backs as they search for a long-term replacement for Andy Robertson, according to The Sun. Fulham's Antonee Robinson, Ipswich Town's Leif Davis and RB Leipzig's David Raum are all on the Reds' radar. Robertson, 30, is a senior figure in the squad having been a key player for previous manager Jürgen Klopp, but this season coach Arne Slot has shown he is willing to select Kostas Tsimikas in the team ahead of him.

- Angel Gomes is keen to return to the Premier League amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur, reports GiveMeSport, with the midfielder having come through the ranks at Manchester United before moving to Lille in 2020. The 24-year-old's financial demands could dictate whether Spurs place themselves at the front of the queue to sign the England international when his contract expires in the summer.

- Manchester United are plotting a fresh move for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite in the summer transfer window, according to talkSPORT. The 22-year-old reportedly has ambitions to play for a top Premier League club, but the Red Devils could face competition from Liverpool having already seen two offers worth up to £50 million rejected ahead of this season.

- Brentford's demands of over £60m for Bryan Mbeumo will price Arsenal out of a move, according to Football Insider. The 25-year-old's return of eight goals in nine Premier League appearances so far this term has also caught the Gunners' attention -- Liverpool too -- although a January transfer could be off the cards as the Bees are determined not to lose Mbeumo halfway through the season.

ESPN writer and former scout Tor-Kristian Karlsen gives his thoughts on Man United's move for Sporting's Viktor Gyökeres.

The meteoric rise of the Sweden international is quite an unusual case. Gyökeres was heavily scouted as a teenager by a plethora of top European clubs when he broke through at IF Brommapojkarna in his homeland and his impressive goal-scoring record for Sweden's youth sides (14 goals in 28 games) only increased the interest from abroad. Brighton did well to sign him in 2018, but he never found any rhythm or consistency there amid a host of loan moves and he was practically written off by the elite clubs when he moved to Championship side Coventry in 2021.

But with 43 goals in 116 games at Coventry during his two years there, he showed signs that he could become a prolific centre-forward and has since polished his game remarkably under Ruben Amorim's guidance at Sporting CP.

Gyökeres has always had the pace to play off the shoulder of defenders and upper-body strength to hold his own in duels. Now he has improved his ball striking and incisive off-the-ball movement ,which have been two main factors behind his emphatic scoring spree of 66 goals in 67 games for Sporting.

Being able to hit a shot with such power and precision makes him a threat from most angles and positions while his clever, start-stop-start movements -- often perfectly timed on the blind side of the defender -- give him more opportunities than most.

It's no surprise to see Amorim linked with him again, given what they have achieved together, and Gyökeres' energy and highly effective pressing make him a perfect addition to the new look United frontline. The 26-year-old is equally comfortable at outpacing opponents in the transitional phase or as a target man to play into, which makes his €100m release seem a no-brainer.

- Manchester City could look to offload Jack Grealish to make room for a new winger in the summer transfer window. (Football Insider)

- Chelsea have "major interest" in Wolverhampton Wanderers full-back Rayan Aït-Nouri, who is also being monitored by Liverpool. (TEAMtalk)

- VfB Stuttgart want to sign Bayern Munich's 19-year-old forward Mathys Tel on loan in January, having tried to recruit last summer. (Sport Bild)