We really were spoiled as Manchester United fans weren’t we?
Remember the days when Nani, despite winning four Premier League titles, a Champions League and finishing as number one in the top-flight’s assist charts, had large sections of the Old Trafford fanbase wondering if he was truly good enough to continue a proud tradition of world-class widemen?
It’s fair to say Nani, let alone Ryan Giggs, George Best, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, would stroll into the Manchester United starting XI these days.
The good news is that, with Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo only 19 and 21 years of age respectably and with a deal for Crystal Palace talisman Michael Olise feeling very achievable indeed, happier times should just around the corner for the United supporters pining for the days of dazzling wingplay.
Manchester United eye Viktor Gyokeres
The Red Devils are expected to bring in a centre-forward this summer to ease the burden on Rasmus Hojlund in attack and form a new-look frontline alongside Garnacho, Amad and Marcus Rashford.
HITC reported that Man United have been keeping a close eye on Viktor Gyokeres during the powerhouse Swede’s stunning debut season at Sporting Lisbon. Gyokeres scored a frankly obscene 43 goals as Ruben Amorim’s side beat Benfica to the title.
And Nani, thrilled to see one of his former clubs thrive while another stutters, is in no doubt that Sporting have found a ‘special player’ in the one-time Coventry City, Swansea and Brighton man.
“This season was perfect with Gyokeres finishing Sporting’s moves,” Nani tells Sport TV’s Titulares programme.
“He scored a lot of goals. I think he was the team’s key player because you have to score goals to win games.
“It was a find. Sporting have an eye for finding a special players.”
A new striker is a priority at Old Trafford
Interestingly, Gyokeres is a player United’s incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth knows very well too. The former FA chief worked with the 25-year-old briefly at Brighton, Gyokeres joining Coventry on a permanent basis at a time when The Seagulls – while fully aware of his potential – felt they could not offer regular first-team football.
Gyokeres, a fearsome mix of pace, power and precision, is just one of a number of centre-forwards under consideration by Man United. He may also be one of the most expensive, with an £86 million release clause in his contract.
And despite his obvious talents in the final third – 83 goals in the last three seasons – Gyokeres would arrive at Old Trafford still unproven in any of Europe’s so-called ‘top five leagues’. The success of Ruben Dias, Luis Diaz, Bruno Fernandes after swapping the Primeira Liga for the Premier League, however, may ease those concerns.
And that’s without mentioning a certain Champions League-winning winger who, in hindsight, deserves a lot more respect for his achievements at Manchester United.