Manchester United are prepared to use Joshua Zirkzee in their bid to sign Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, according to Caught Offside.

The Dutchman only joined the Red Devils from Bologna for £36.5m in the summer but he has failed to impress during the opening months of the season.

Zirkzee has only scored 1 goal in 17 games, although the majority of those appearances have come as a substitute.

Even so, there is a feeling that the 23-year-old may continue to struggle under new head coach Ruben Amorim, who prefers a different type of forward.

United have the upper hand in Gyokeres battle

With Zirkzee unlikely to play much of a role, it would make sense to offer him as part of a deal for his potential replacement.

Gyokeres has already excelled under Amorim, and the Swedish international’s close relationship with his former manager should give United an advantage over other suitors.

Arsenal and Chelsea have also been credited with an interest in the striker, who has scored a phenomenal 23 goals already this campaign.

A summer transfer is on the cards

While some fans may be hoping that the Red Devils can do a deal for Gyokeres during the January transfer window, a move seems unlikely.

Sporting are keen to keep hold of the 26-year-old until the end of the season and they are expected to demand that clubs pay his €100m (£83m) release clause in full in the New Year. If that is the case, they would not accept any sort of part-exchange proposal.

Things are expected to be different in the summer, though. Caught Offside report that there is an agreement for Gyokeres to leave for £60m and, if United include Zirkzee, the cost of the transfer would not be prohibitive.

Find out who is in Manchester United’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here