Amorim picks his striker: Man Utd target free agent 'as good as Gyokeres'

Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
  • Updated: 7 Jul 2025 13:50 BST
  • 4 min read
Ruben Amorim, Viktor Gyokeres, Man Utd, 2024/25
© IMAGO

Former Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew believes that Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be an excellent signing for Manchester United following recent links of a Bosman move.

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The 28-year-old is available on a free transfer after leaving Everton at the start of July and Man Utd are among the clubs eyeing a potential summer deal amid their pursuit of a new centre forward.

Current ETV
Player image Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Dominic Calvert-Lewin

F (C)

 logo

Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Dominic Calvert-Lewin

F (C)

€17.8M

ETV Range

€16M - €19.6M

That is according to The Sun, who claim that Man Utd have already initiated contact with Calvert-Lewin as they look to land a cheap alternative to Viktor Gyokeres following news of his imminent move to Arsenal.

The Sweden international was previously Ruben Amorim’s top striker target, after working with him at Sporting CP, but he is determined to join Arsenal instead and the deal is now close to being finalised.

Gyokeres has even given up €2 million in wages to push through a move to Arsenal, and Man Utd have been forced to identify alternative targets as they look to sign a new centre forward to replace Rasmus Hojlund.

When asked about rumours linking Calvert-Lewin to Old Trafford, one Man Utd fan asked talkSPORT: “Do we have to have him? Is this a prank?”

However, Pardew replied by stating that Calvert-Lewin could be a fantastic signing for the Red Devils.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is available on a free transfer after leaving Everton
© IMAGO - Dominic Calvert-Lewin is available on a free transfer after leaving Everton

Dominic Calvert-Lewin to join Man Utd?

“If you were going to do a contract with him [Calvert-Lewin], you’d certainly have something in place that [says] he’d have to hit a certain number of appearances for him to reach a certain financial level,” Pardew told talkSPORT.

“If that was in place, I’d be quite comfortable with him in the [Man Utd] squad because he’s got talent, we all know that. When he’s on his game, he’s as good as any striker in the Premier League [and] I think he would be tempted by Man Utd.”

When asked about the difference in quality between Gyokeres and Calvert-Lewin, Pardew delivered a rather shocking reply. “On their day there’s not much between them,” he said. “If Calvert-Lewin has a [good] day and Gyokeres has a [good] day, they're very similar.

“But, of course, the consistency level with Calvert-Lewin and the fact that he’s not really on the pitch that often is the big, big problem with him.”

Gyokeres has scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP over the past two years, while Calvert-Lewin has found the back of the net on just 11 occasions during the same time period.

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