caughtoffside
·15. November 2024
caughtoffside
·15. November 2024
It seems almost inevitable that Viktor Gyokeres’ remarkable goalscoring form will see him land a move to an elite European outfit.
The Sweden international – currently on 27 goal contributions in 18 games in 2024/25 – signalled his talents to the world once more during Sporting CP’s 4-1 demolition of Manchester City.
With the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester United understood to hold some interest in the forward, a summer transfer window move could very well be on the cards.
It just remains to be seen who will stump up the required funds to meet the 26-year-old’s reported release clause of £83m. Albeit, it’s allegedly possible that Sporting will allow their top striker to depart for as little as £61m in the summer.
(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
With the Red Devils struggling in the goalscoring department – particularly in the English top-flight – it’s far from surprising to hear of their maintained interest in Gyokeres.
“Manchester United are big competition for Viktor Gyokeres. It’s easier, of course, for United with Ruben Amorim having swapped Sporting CP for Old Trafford,” Christian Falk informed CaughtOffside in his exclusive Fact Files column.
“Also, Bayern already have Harry Kane in the squad, so Gyokeres won’t get so much playing time in Munich, which isn’t a great argument for Vincent Komapany’s side.
“The Red Devils are also interested in another Bayern Munich target in Benjamin Sesko (so you see the club is always competing with the Premier League).”
The Bavarian giants would most certainly provide more than stiff competition for the Primeira Liga star’s services normally.
However, it’s fair to assume that a range of circumstances, not discounting the arrival of former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, will run in Manchester United’s favour. Former Red Devils star Dimitar Berbatov certainly seems to feel that this is a distinct likelihood. He told Sky Sports that he suspects the Primeira Liga attacker, currently ‘scoring goals for fun’ in Portugal, may very well join his former boss in Manchester.
Bayern Munich, for their part, are unlikely to stand in their way, should that eventuality come to pass.
“Bayern Munich have a number of strikers on their shortlist: Omar Marmoush, Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda,” Falk said.
“They’re not planning an immediate signing in the near future; it’s a list to keep in mind for the future. They are thinking about signing a striker, perhaps, in 2026. So any club that is moving now for these players has a big advantage whilst Bayern make the most of Harry Kane.”
On current form, too, Bayern Munich may very well have to accept that this top European talent is considerably likely to be snapped up by a top Premier League club in the summer.
The German reporter went on to add: “Gyokeres isn’t their top target at the moment, though they are very interested in him. Bayern would prefer to see the Swede stay in Lisbon longer so that they could join the market later for him (when his contract is closer to running out and the price isn’t so high).
“The problem is that he’s playing in the same position as Harry Kane and he’s unlikely to want to stay on the bench behind the England international.
“Still, you see how highly rated he is that Bayern see him as a potential successor to Kane. It’s perhaps too early for Bayern to move in for him, but the interest is concrete.