Manchester United targets Viktor Gyokeres and Geovany Quenda both featured in Sporting’s latest Champions League clash.
The Portuguese champions, who won their last title under Ruben Amorim, suffered a 3-0 defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday evening.
They now face an uphill battle to salvage their European hopes with a second leg in Germany next week.
United scouts attended to watch Geovany Quenda in action, with the Red Devils making the 17-year-old winger a top target for the summer window.
Quenda impressed against Dortmund, but he wasn’t able to turn the tie in his side’s favour. As for Viktor Gyokeres, he started on the bench but replaced Conrad Harder up front just before the hour mark.
After the full-time whistle, Sporting boss Rui Borges explained that both players are currently struggling with fitness.
Viktor Gyokeres and Geovany Quenda fitness struggle
Gyokeres has not played a full 90 minutes for Sporting since the middle of January when they lost on penalties to Benfica in the Allianz Cup final.
United remain interested in Gyokeres ahead of the summer, with a reunion with Amorim on the cards. He is set to be available for around £63m in the summer.
But Borges has explained that both Gyokeres and Geovany Quenda are struggling with fitness due to Sporting’s hectic fixture list.
As quoted by O Jogo, Borges said: “We don’t need to be specific here, he [Gyokeres] had an injury like many others.
“He stopped and can’t play the full 90′, it’s to do with shortness of breath, his lungs. He lost his physical condition.
But the physical deficit isn’t just felt by Viktor. Quenda is too. In the league he’s not so demonstrative, we have more of the ball. But in this competition it’s felt more.
“I wish I could have him… He makes an impact, I have no doubt. But they’re so worried about Viktor that there are things that don’t make much sense to me. He stopped, recovered and is slowly coming back.”
Ruben Amorim wants improved fitness at Man United
There are reports that Quenda joining United is close to completion, and Gyokeres will be a top target when the summer rolls around.
If the duo do make the move to England, they will have to be prepared for the physicality of the Premier League. But since Gyokeres thrived in the Championship, it shouldn’t be too much of a concern.
Improving fitness levels is something Amorim has been keen to do at United.
Amorim wants United to ‘run like mad dogs’, suggesting it is a non-negotiable if this team plans on winning the Premier League again.
The workrate of United players has been questioned for several years now, and Amorim is eager to fix that. He knows Quenda and Gyokeres better than most, and he clearly sees them as upgrades on what he has in his current squad.