Fabio Capello Unbothered by Manchester United Missing Out on Gyökeres — Says They Already Have a Better Option
Fabio Capello isn’t losing sleep over Manchester United’s failure to sign Viktor Gyökeres, insisting the club already possesses a more capable striker within their ranks.
Although Rasmus Højlund struggled for consistency last season, prompting United to seek a more reliable goal-scorer, Capello believes the solution may already be in-house. With Matheus Cunha now signed and United pushing to land Bryan Mbeumo, many still argue that a true number nine is missing from the squad.
United have been heavily linked with Gyökeres, but talks with Sporting CP have reportedly stalled due to a steep €70 million price tag and complications involving the striker’s agent. Recent reports also suggest that Gyökeres may prefer a move to Arsenal.
Capello, however, doesn’t see this as a major blow. Writing in *La Gazzetta dello Sport* (via *Juve FC*), the former Juventus and England boss expressed his preference for another target — Joshua Zirkzee.
“If I had to choose, I’d go for Joshua Zirkzee right away. He’s proven himself in Serie A,” Capello said. “He’d also cost less than Gyökeres, who despite his great numbers at Sporting, is already 27 and hasn’t proven himself in a top European league.”
Capello praised Zirkzee’s standout performances at Bologna, which helped the club secure Champions League qualification. After a rocky start at Manchester United — including a poor display against Newcastle — Zirkzee has rebounded strongly and earned the fans’ trust.
While Gyökeres is a classic poacher with strong finishing ability, Zirkzee offers more versatility, often dropping deep to link play — making a direct comparison between the two strikers less straightforward.
