LONDON, 18 NOV – Viktor Gyokeres is a Swedish striker whose stunning goals have made him one of Europe’s hottest talents and potentially the next $100 million footballer.
However, Premier League clubs seem to have missed his rare talent when it was right in front of them.
On the other hand, Sporting Lisbon jumped at the chance to get Gyokeres and now stand to make a huge profit after prying him from English football’s lower leagues last year.
“He is ready for something bigger,” Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson told broadcaster Viaplay ahead of Gyokeres’ hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League last week. “Everyone loves a striker who scores goals.”
Sporting bought Gyokeres from Coventry City for around US$25 million. He has scored 66 goals in 68 appearances including 23 in 18 this season and helped Sporting win the Portuguese title last season.
To put the 26-year-old forward’s club stats into context, this season he has outscored Robert Lewandowski (19 in 17 games), Harry Kane (17 in 16) and Erling Haaland (15 in 16).
Gyokeres tested defenses with his direct runs and was extremely venomous in front of goal with solid kicks that found the corner of the net with incredible accuracy.
His impressive numbers have fueled speculation that he could soon be on the move again, possibly during the January transfer window with the likes of Manchester United, City, Arsenal, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain all reported to be interested. Gyokeres’ contract has a release clause of US$105.4 million. – AP
