PORTUGAL
Who is Viktor Gyökeres, Europe’s most wanted striker
Gyökeres, Sporting de Portugal striker, has already contributed to 50 goals in the 2023-24 season and is on the top of many big European teams wanted lists.
Viktor Gyökeres is the most prolific centre forward in European football at present. The Swedish striker has now 50 goal contributions all season for Sporting CP, more than any other player on the continent. His 36 goals and 14 assists top Harry Kane’s 37 goals and 10 assists, or Mbappé's 38 goals and 8 assists with Erling Haaland trailing the trio on 29 goals and 6 assists.
The 25-year-old has also seen his value skyrocket and has shot up from June 2023′s 13 million to the current 55 million (euro) according to transfer market specialists Transfermarkt. Inevitably his prowess in front of goal in the green and white hoops has generated plenty of interest in Europe’s wealthier clubs with Chelsea having already tried to secure the striker’s services last January but Sporting resisted the overtures of the side from south west London.
Gyokeres is current top scorer in the Portuguese domestic league and his goals have helped the Jose Alvalade side in topping the Liga Portugal Betclic table with just eight games left in the season as the ‘Lions’ hold a one point advantage over city rivals Benfica.
The Swedish striker has also picked up the award for best striker in the Portuguese league for four consecutive months, from October to January and is hoping to lead Sporting to a league and cup double with the hoops facing Benfica in the Taça de Portugal with a 2-1 first leg advantage.
Brighton reject
Gyokeres was signed from Sweden by Brighton moving to the English south coast at the age of 19. He never played in the Premier League with the Seagulls and spent time on loan with the likes of St. Pauli, Swansea and Coventry eventualñly moving to the Midlands side in 2021 they decided to sell him to Coventry for one million euros.
The Swedes goals almost helped the Sky Blues secure a place in the Premier League but a heartbreaking playoff defeat at the hands of Luton saw the Stockholm born striker move to Sporting who signed him last summer for a fee of 21 million euro.