Man Utd will need a new striker to support Rasmus Hojlund next season.

Manchester United’s search for a new striker could take them to Portugal with reports suggesting they have joined the race for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.

New United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has placed a new No.9 at the top of what will certainly be a lengthy summer shopping list. Current back-up Anthony Martial set to leave as a free agent once his contract expires on June 30, leaving only Rasmus Hojlund as a natural frontman.

The ongoing search for a new striker has been well-documented and United are scouring Europe for a proven goalscorer, with HITC reporting that Gyokeres has emerged as a potential target. The Sporting CP talisman is also on Liverpool’s radar, however, while other top European clubs will no doubt enter the race come summer.

Gyokeres only joined Sporting from Coventry City last summer in a deal worth an initial £17m. But the Portuguese outfit look to have hit the jackpot, with a run of 30 goals and 12 assists in 38 appearances across all competitions seeing that value sky-rocket.

Sporting are reportedly expecting to sell Gyokeres this summer but he has a release clause of £87.5m, with the 25-year-old also proving a capable Europa League goalscorer and one potentially ready for Champions League football. Arsenal and Chelsea are also thought to have been keeping an eye on the striker’s form, with a Premier League move increasingly likely.

A successful pursuit of Gyokeres would go some way to solving a major issue at United, who continue to struggle going forward. Erik ten Hag’s side have rediscovered some attacking threat in recent weeks but remain a mid-table side in terms of goals scored.

“I think it would help,” Ten Hag recently admitted of United’s pursuit of a striker. “We are working in the background on plans with scouting. We are working on our plan, the plan is ready, but it has to execute, and I trust the new ownership that they will work as quick as possible and bring new good structures and that they can execute.”

It is thought a more experienced striker would be preferred, with the hope being that any new arrival can hit the ground running next season as United aim to get back into the Champions League. Rasmus Hojlund has shown plenty of promise in his debut season at Old Trafford but the 20-year-old may also benefit from having a proven goalscorer to learn from.

Failure to qualify for the Champions League would significantly hinder United’s chances of landing Gyokeres, given other interested parties will be in Europe’s flagship competition. The Reds are currently 10 points short of Tottenham and 13 away from Aston Villa with six games remaining.