Samu eyes starting spot, but Deniz Gül and Luuk de Jong challenge | OneFootball

Samu remains firmly at the top of FC Porto’s scoring chart this season, with nine goals, but the pressure from the competition forces the Spanish international to maintain maximum focus and commitment to keep his place in the starting lineup.

The closest challengers are Deniz Gül and Luuk de Jong. The Turkish international has been coming off the bench and scoring crucial goals, while the Dutchman, who is about to return to the pitch, should be fit within a month and will offer another attacking option to Francesco Farioli.

In nine games and 270 minutes of play, Deniz Gül has already matched the two goals he scored in 24 matches (653’) last season. Always used as a substitute, he has delivered two decisive strikes: the 2-0 in Arouca, shortly after Martim Fernandes was sent off, and the goal in Moreirense that completed the comeback and secured the win. In Moreira de Cónegos, he received the MVP award and has been winning over the fans, who even dedicated a chant to him. His emergence justified the SAD board’s decision to reject a summer transfer offer, after the club invested 4.5 million euros in his signing in 2024.

Luuk de Jong, who only arrived in the last transfer window, had his adaptation hampered by a sprain with an injury to the internal lateral ligament of his left knee during a training match with Lusitânia de Lourosa on September 8. According to Record, the 35-year-old striker is expected to resume running exercises at the Jorge Costa Training and Sports Development Center this week and should be fit within a month.

Although he will miss the most demanding run of games until the next break, De Jong should be available from December, when, for example, the Europa League enters its decisive phase. To speed up his return, the Dutchman will continue to train regularly at the training center, just like Nehuén Pérez, even while the rest of the squad is on break. In short, FC Porto’s attacking bench is gaining greater depth.

Deniz Gül and Luuk de Jong have already scored this season. Before his injury, the Dutchman scored FC Porto’s first goal in the win at Alvalade against Sporting. The Turkish international scored in Arouca and in Moreira de Cónegos, and now shares third place on FC Porto’s top scorers list with Pepê and Borja Sainz. The second spot, behind Samu, belongs to William Gomes, with four goals.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.