Will Viktor Gyokeres Follow Ruben Amorim to Manchester United in January?
Will Viktor Gyokeres Follow Ruben Amorim to Manchester United in January?
Viktor Gyokeres is one of the most in-form and free-scoring strikers in Europe. The forward, who plays for Sporting CP in the Portuguese top-flight, has been linked with a move away from the club during the January transfer window with Manchester United and Manchester City both touted as potential destinations for the 26-year-old.
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Who is Viktor Gyokeres?
Viktor Gyokeres is a Swedish international striker who was born in Stockholm and began his career at IF Brommapojkarna. He made his debut for the club at the age of 16 and netted his first goals during a Svenska Cupen victory over IF Sylvia. With 20 goals for a struggling side, Gyokeres attracted plenty of admiring glances and was eventually snapped up by Brighton and Hove Albion. He made his first senior appearance in the EFL Cup for the Seagulls, although he failed to make a single appearance in the top flight. He was loaned out to St. Pauli where he netted seven in 26. This was followed by an unsuccessful loan spell at Swansea City in the Championship where he failed to notch in 11 appearances.
Despite this, he made an instant impact at Coventry and scored his first goal in English football against Sheffield Wednesday at the end of January 2021. During the summer transfer window, he signed a permanent contract with the Sky Blues finding the back of the net in the first start of his second spell.
Overall, he scored 38 times in 91 appearances for Mark Robins’ side and despite being linked with a move to the Premier League, he opted to switch to Sporting CP for a record transfer fee of 20 million euros. His release clause is currently set at 100 million euros.
He scored twice on debut against Vizela and also found the net on his European debut against Sturm Graz. As well as finding the net with regularity, the Swede is also capable of creating chances and was responsible for four assists during his side’s 5-1 victory against Estoril at the beginning of 2024. He was voted the league’s Player of the Month for five consecutive months and helped his side to mathematically secure the Liga NOS title on May 5th 2024.
Gyokeres has continued to excel and his performances in Europe have caught the eye. He became just the second Swedish player to score a Champions League hat-trick as he helped his side earn a memorable 4-1 victory over Manchester City at the beginning of November.
Style of Play
As his stats would suggest, Gyokeres is a free-scoring striker, yet his all-round game has signifcantly improved. He is physical, pacey and has great stamina. He regularly finds space behind opposition defences and gets himself into goalscoring positions. If required, he also has enough strength (something that he has greatly improved since moving to Portugal), to act as a target man and hold up the ball if required.
Although he is predominantly right-footed, he is able to finish with both feet. He’s able to quickly shift the ball between feet and his intelligent movement can often bamboozle defenders.
Where is he Likely to End Up?
Although Sporting CP have set a substantial release clause, they are unlikely to be able to hold onto the in-form frontman. Ruben Amorim has swapped Lisbon for Manchester and that has intensified the rumours that the free-scoring Swede may follow in January.
Reports have also suggested that Gyokeres has been advised to sign for Manchester City or Arsenal as opposed to the Red Devils, who are generally considered to be a poorly run outfit.
Liverpool are another name who have been linked with the former Brighton forward, whereas Barcelona, who aren’t exactly short of goals at the moment, are another club who have been briefly linked with Gyokeres.
It is going to take a substantial offer to prise him away from the Estadio Jose Alvlade and it remains to be seen whether he makes the switch in January or whether he spends the rest of the season in the Portuguese top flight.