Viktor Gyokeres, who has been rumoured for a summer move to Manchester United, has withdrawn from Sweden's forthcoming international matches against Hungary and Algeria.

Following his last match on Sunday, 25 May in an exhausting league and cup double-winning season with Sporting CP, Gyokeres sustained a minor injury that requires recovery.

A statement on behalf of the player has been announced by the team's press officer Petra Thoren, following consultation with Sweden's medical team, that he will not participate.

The fixtures against Hungary (Friday, 6 June) and Algeria (Tuesday, 10 June) are planned friendlies, so naturally the forward will be cautious about his health given the potential of a summer transfer, possibly to the Premier League. It is speculating the striker is pre-empting his big move, and staying in good health.

A significant aspect of United's summer transfer plan is to secure a striker. Ipswich Town's Liam Delap had been their primary target, but the 22 year old is now close to signing for Chelsea with his £30m release clause met and formalities in progress.

So Old Trafford bosses are back to considering other targets. Gyokeres has been linked for several months and his rapport with Ruben Amorim is already strong, having spent over a year together at Sporting.

Although more expensive than Delap, with a reported asking price of £67m, the 26 year old's goal-scoring prowess is undeniable with 97 goals in 102 appearances while in Portugal.

United's ambitions are being curtailed without the allure of Champions League football, prompting the necessity to strategically allocate finances. They've already splashed out £62.5million on Matheus Cunha from Wolves on a five-year agreement and have their sights set on Brentford's highly-valued Bryan Mbeumo, who could command a cool £50m.

Arsenal is providing stiff competition for United in the quest to lure Amorim's ex-protege, with Premier League adversaries showing hefty interest.

It is understood that the Gunners are eyeing Gyokeres alongside RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko at the Emirates, in a bold double swoop.

Intriguingly, Gyokeres' representative, Hasan Cetinkaya, revealed it was the opportunity to collaborate with Amorim that swayed to choose Sporting over any English side this year.

Speaking about the decision, Cetinkaya disclosed: "Everyone was waiting for Viktor to sign with a Premier League club," and added, "And the answer to that question is that I brought Viktor to Sporting for just one reason, and this is also something I said to Mr Amorim when I saw him for the first time, and I said it before I even said hello to him: I only brought my player here because of you."

To emphasise his point, he reiterated, "Therefore, I only brought Gyokeres to Sporting because of Ruben Amorim."