Manchester United have set their sights on a new transfer target after a potential deal for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres reportedly fell through.

Manchester United have signed Matheus Cunha since the transfer window opened, and some of their fans have questioned the club's approach.

They have been linked with Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, but a deal has not materialised a month after they were first linked with the Cameroonian.

The Red Devils had a dreadful 2024/25 season. They finished 15th in the league and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

This means they will not play European football next season, which changed their plans. Last season, they played 15 games in the Europa League, so they will need a smaller squad.

Head coach Ruben Amorim spoke a few times about selling players before bringing in new ones.

"Without the Champions League, we also don't need a big squad. We can control the squad in a better way. Then we have a plan, that is to bring in some new players, but our big plan is to improve the team we have, to improve the Academy," Amorim said via Standard Sports.

With just one game per week, Amorim will be under pressure to deliver early in the season.

According to the Mirror, Man United have switched their attention to Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins after Viktor Gyokeres reportedly decided to join Arsenal.

The England striker reportedly became unsettled after falling down the pecking order and is ready for a new challenge.

The two clubs have held talks, the report adds, with Amorim seeing him as a potential valuable player to have due to his proven goal-scoring ability.

Aston Villa, who missed out on Champions League football after losing to Man United on the final day. They want £60 million (approximately 10.5 billion) for the striker.

However, the 13-time Premier League champions will likely be unwilling to spend that much on a 29-year-old with no resale value.

The club was willing to swap Marcus Rashford with Watkins, but Villa declined the deal. The Red Devils will find it hard to convince players to join them without Champions League football.

Man United scored 44 goals in the Premier League. Starting strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scored seven of them.

The Danish striker was heavily criticised for his performances, and some asked for him to be moved. Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo carried the goalscoring load, and it is clear they need help.

Therefore, they will need a reliable goalscorer to try and help them get Champions League football.

In a related story, reported that former Man United assistant coach Rene Meulensteen said that Amorim will be fired by Christmas if performances don't improve.

The Dutchman is not impressed by Amorim's formation, underlining that he is "not clever" for refusing to adapt his style.

The former Sporting CP boss lost 17 matches in his first six months, and fans will demand results in the first game of the season.

Source: TUKO.co.ke