Viktor Gyokeres: Arsenal and Manchester United among transfer options for Sporting star | OneFootball

Top clubs all over Europe are interested in Gyokeres, who has an £83m release clause and could be on the move next summer

Viktor Gyokeres is one of the most talked about and in-demand strikers in European football.

The Sporting Lisbon frontman continued his blistering start to the season with a hat-trick in their 4-1 Champions League win against Manchester City on Tuesday.

Here, Standard Sport assesses his options…

Viktor Gyokeres and Man Utd-bound Ruben Amorim

Zed Jameson/PA Wire

Manchester United

It should become clear early on in Ruben Amorim’s reign at Old Trafford which members of the Manchester United squad he sees as part of his plans and which he wishes to move on.

While Rasmus Hojlund is currently United’s first-choice striker, he has not scored prolifically since his £72million move from Atalanta in 2023. Game time has been limited and goals even harder to come by for summer recruit Joshua Zirkzee.

Gyokeres has thrived under Amorin at Sporting and a reunion between the two at Old Trafford has already been mooted. His big release clause represents a sticking point with regards a potential January move.

It was United sporting director Dan Ashworth who sanctioned Gyokeres’s sale to Coventry from Brighton when he was the Seagulls’ technical director. Brighton received just £1m for his him, before Coventry sold him for £17m to Sporting in 2023.

Mikel Arteta still needs a reliable no9

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal

In an interview with the Swedish sports newspaper Sportsbladet in September, Gyokeres admitted: “Of course you aim to test other leagues and a higher level, but I have no stress.”

One of the other clubs linked with Gyokeres are Arsenal.

Some feel an elite No9 could be the missing link for the Gunners as they target their first title since 2004. Kai Havertz has done alright leading the line and has scored seven goals in 15 games this season.

But Arsenal legend Ian Wright summarised their striking problems on social media earlier this year, simply posting, “We need a killer”.

Gyokeres has been scouted by Arsenal, who failed to sign a striker last summer and are set to be in the market for a new frontman next summer.

While Arsenal may well feel Gyokeres’ release clause is too steep, Sky Germany have reported that Sporting will allow him to leave next summer and would expect to recoup between £50m and £80m in a transfer fee.

Viktor Gyokeres is firmly settled at Sporting

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Stay at Sporting

In the short term, Gyokeres is likely to stay put and see out the season with Sporting.

Ten wins and a 100 per cent record so far has made them favourites to win the Portuguese title again, and Tuesday win over City suggested they could go deep in the Champions League.

But Gyokeres may also decide that another season at Sporting next term is also beneficial for his development, or Sporting might not sanction a move.

Other options

Barcelona have also been linked with Gyokeres.

Reports in Spain claim Barca believe they could strike a cut-price deal worth around £50m-£60m by offloading Vitor Roque, currently on loan at Real Betis, in a player-plus-cash deal.

Barca reportedly view Gyokeres as a long-term replacement for 36-year-old Robert Lewandowski.