With some of the Premier League’s biggest and most deep-pocketed clubs in the market for a centre-forward this summer, it felt like only a matter of time before a man with 36 goals in 39 games started to become part of the discussions surrounding Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and co.
Especially considering that the striker in question appears to have every single attribute required to thrive in the English game.
He’s done so already, of course, earning himself that £20 million move last summer after hitting 40 goals in two seasons on UK soil.
But if Viktor Gyokeres was still viewed as something of a risk when leaving Coventry City less than 12 months ago, then his remarkable return over in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon appears to have cemented him a long overdue place in the plans of England’s most high-profile clubs.
Arsenal are keeping tabs on Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres
HITC Football reported last week that Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are all keeping tabs on the soaring Swede. Arsenal, meanwhile, are stepping up their own interest, making further checks on a man who will surely end his debut season in the Portuguese capital with well in excess of 40 goals across all competitions.
For Joao Palhinha, Fulham’s former Sporting destroyer, the only surprise is that Gyokeres’ talents were not spotted sooner.
“I think they were all distracted,” Palhinha tells O Jogo of a player who could have set Arsenal back £20 million last summer and could cost £86 million this due to the release clause in his Sporting contract.
“I think (the English clubs) were a little bit asleep, to be honest. I’ve already told people close to me that I don’t understand how (there is) a player of Gyokeres’ quality (combined) with the physical power he has…
“I think would fit well into any England team.”
36 goals in 39 games
Gyokeres is not only a lethal finisher. The one-time Brighton and Swansea City youngster was likened to Erling Haaland by former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray, Gyokeres a fearsome combination of pace, power and panache, a player so quick and so strong that he is almost unstoppable in full flow.
“Sporting managed to sign him and thank goodness because he has been an asset in every game,” the £55 million-rated Palhinha adds. “His performance has been very high in the Portuguese championship, and Sporting will certainly make a lot of money with him.”
HITC have been told that Arsenal also like Ivan Toney, Dusan Vlahovic and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.