Rio Ferdinand Against Man United Signing Gyokeres: Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand is against his former club, United, or Arsenal signing 26-year-old Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, claiming that he is not ready for the physicality of the Premier League.
Gyokeres is currently lighting the world ablaze for Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Superliga. This season, in his domestic league, he has scored 27 and assisted four goals in 24 matches. In the UEFA Champions League, he scored six goals in eight games, including a hat trick against Manchester City.
So naturally, Gyokeres is currently pretty popular among big European clubs. A target for many, the Swede is on the target list of several clubs. However, the two teams that are the favourites to get his signature are Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal.
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Man United have recently sent their long-time striker Marcus Rashford on loan to Aston Villa. And with their recent striker signings like Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee not on the level of leading the attacks of a top team (despite what United’s recent performances might say), they are in desperate need of a world-class attacker.
As for Arsenal, they, too, need a solid No. 9 after two seasons of challenging for but failing to win the league title. This season, they have fallen way behind the top-placed Liverpool in the PL and will need a striker if they are to mount a title challenge next season.
However, Rio Ferdinand, who was a legendary defender for the Red Devils and was known for his physicality, believes that United and the Gunners need a striker who can dominate defences physically. He also believes that Viktor Gyokeres is not the answer to their prayers, saying he is not ready for the physicality of the Premier League. He said this in a recent video on his YouTube channel.
Rio Ferdinand Against Man United Signing Gyokeres
“I don’t think he’s the guy. I’ve not watched him loads, but I’ve probably watched him three times really, really closely. Three times I’ve watched him, and I’ve gone, and he isn’t getting those opportunities in the Premier League. When I see him physically matched, I don’t see it. What else is there?
That’s the question I’m asking. Is there enough after he’s physically matched to get a goal? Physicality is a massive thing in the game today. A Ruben Amorim team needs physicality and runners, but there’s no real physicality in this squad. It just isn’t there.”
Ferdinand also recalled how Chelsea struggled after signing a then-highly touted striker in Timo Werner.
“I believe Arsenal could go for him, but he’s not the guy. I remember when Timo Werner first came to Chelsea, they played Brighton, and he said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like that’ in terms of the physicality. Physicality is such a big thing in the Premier League,” he said.
Manchester United, under Gyokeres’s previous manager, Ruben Amorim, is currently undergoing its worst season in the Premier League era, placed 14th on the table. On the other hand, Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta’s management, are second in the PL but 15 points behind Liverpool.
Check Out: Rio Ferdinand Against Man United Signing Gyokeres
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