Zlatan Ibrahimovic retired, Swedish football can boast of producing great attackers for years to come. Besides Alexander Isak who shines with Newcastle, Viktor Gyökeres is not left out. 25-year-old Swedish striker trained at IF Brommapojkarna, one of the best training clubs in the country which revealed John Guidetti (ex-Manchester City), Albin Ekdal (ex-Juventus) and Dejan Kulusevski (Tottenham), the right-hander has made the big leap in 2018 to Brighton. In a team that was only just starting out in the Premier League, Viktor Gyökeres did not really get his chance in three years (8 matches played, 1 goal and 1 gift) and experienced successful loans (FC St Pauli and Coventry City) or less successful (Swansea City). A journey which experienced a slowdown, but which accelerated in the Championship with Coventry City.
After six interesting months on loan where he contributed to the maintenance of his team, he confirmed the following season (2021/2022) by delivering a convincing exercise (18 goals and 5 offerings in 47 matches). Helping his team to play the leading roles with a great start to the season, he will experience a more complicated second part of the season like his team which will finish in the middle of the table. Remaining in Coventry in the summer of 2022 despite strong interest from several Premier League clubs, Viktor Gyökeres stayed and it was good for him. Even stronger with Coventry City, he scored 22 goals and delivered 12 goals in 50 matches, qualifying his team for the play-off final (5th in the regular season). Although a decisive passer against Luton Town (1-1), he was unable to prevent his team’s defeat on penalties (6-5) despite the fact that he had converted his shot. A full season in the end for Viktor Gyökeres which convinced him at the age of 25 to take the plunge towards a more prestigious club. Everton and Brighton were in the mix, but he ultimately opted for another destination…
Great debut in Portugal
Then head to Sporting CP for a transfer of 20 million euros excluding bonuses which represents the highest purchase in the history of the Lisbon club. A daring bet on the part of the Leões with such high compensation for a player who had not even played 10 matches in a first division in his career. Proud of this new stage in his career, Viktor Gyökeres, who signed until June 2028, welcomed this collaboration. “It’s a fantastic feeling, I’ve been waiting for this and it’s great to have it all wrapped up and to finally be here. I am very happy. Several great players have come through here and Sporting CP produces a lot of good players. The Club has a lot of history and when I discovered the interest, the choice was easy. I had other options, but I felt that Sporting CP was the team that was most interested in me and when someone wants you, it means they really want you and will take care of you. You. It was the best option. I try to attack and go towards goal as much as I can when I get the ball. In addition, I try to create good opportunities also for my colleagues” he blurted out to Sports TV.
Happy to experience this new adventure, Viktor Gyökeres has not been idle since he settled in the Portuguese capital. Starting with a double against Vizela (3-2), he is simply sparkling on the Sporting CP attack front. Excellent scorer, but also very useful in the game, he panics the scorers with 17 goals and 8 offerings in 20 matches since the start of the season. In the league, he has 10 goals in 13 matches and only the former Lensois now at Braga, Simon Banza, does better. He is also the best passer with his 5 offerings tied with Ricardo Gomes (Estoril Praia). Best player in the championship during the months of October and November, he continued his fine line in December. Author of a double against Gil Vicente (3-1), he broke the screen yesterday against FC Porto (2-0) by scoring a goal and delivering an offering. As a result, Sporting CP regained the lead in the championship with one point ahead of historic rival Benfica.
A €100 million clause and the biggest in line
A true “tractor” on the pitch according to the Portuguese press, Viktor Gyökeres is not called so by his slowness, but by his impressive physical power (1m87 and 86 kilos) which makes him a difficult attacker for defenders to maneuver in duels. . A true assassin in the opposing area, he carries this connotation to the end with a celebration where he mimes a mask in reference to Hannibal Lecter. “I believe the celebration is for the character in the movie (Hannibal). He eats people and Viktor destroys defenses. explained his former teammate at Coventry Josh Eccles in particular. Pepe, who had a bad evening against Sporting CP yesterday, notably finding himself sent off, will have experienced a real ordeal against the Swedish striker. Awarded an 8/10 by In Bolahe was logically elected man of the match: “in the 90th + 2′, still with gasoline in the tank, last burst of power. He leaves Pepe behind, avoids Zé Pedro and serves Daniel Bragança. This image, which resulted in a disallowed goal due to VAR intervention, illustrates the spirit and abilities of the Swede.
And this atypical profile does not make many teams indifferent, particularly in the Premier League where Viktor Gyökeres could make a comeback. According to information from Guardian, three attackers are on Chelsea’s list for this winter with Victor Osimhen (Naples), Ivan Toney (Brentford) and therefore Viktor Gyökeres. Moreover, if for the first it seems difficult to see him leave this winter, the other two belong to financially demanding but selling clubs. Besides the Blues, another London club is in the running and is called Arsenal according to the Mirror. The Gunners, who have also targeted Ivan Toney, will have a hell of a showdown with Chelsea in this winter transfer window. Aware of the appeal of its player in the Premier League, Sporting CP is relatively calm, because if he has to leave, Viktor Gyökeres will bring home a nice check. “Gyökeres has a release clause of 100 million euros, he would only leave in January if they pay this amount” said Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim at a press conference. The Swedish international (19 caps, 5 goals) already presents himself as one of the future leaders of the winter transfer window…
