Premier League giants Newcastle United have scouted Viktor Gyokeres this season with Sporting Lisbon’s former Coventry City striker now taking his tally to 22 goals in just 25 games.
Sporting coach Ruben Amorim indicated earlier this week that even bids of £73 million would not be ‘enough’ to convince the Portuguese challengers to cash in on a player who’s reputation has sky-rocketed since making the move from the second tier of English football last summer.
And considering the fees shelled out for other Primeira Liga goalscorers of late – former Benfica duo Goncalo Ramos and Darwin Nunez come to mind – you can see why Amorim is so keen to set out his stall.
HITC Football understands that Newcastle scouted Viktor Gyokeres earlier this month. At that time, the powerhouse striker had 17 goals to his name. He now has 22, Gyokeres maintaining his stunning start to life in the Portuguese capital with a brace during Thursday’s 5-2 triumph away from home at Vizela.
22 goals already for Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting Lisbon
The Swede’s first of the night, drawing Sporting back to 1-1, showcased so many of the attributes which have seen Gyokeres likened to fellow Scandinavian goal-machine Rasmus Hojlund. The back-to-goal strength to shrug off a defender, the sharp turn and the instinctive finish.
The one-time Swansea loanee, who like so many of football’s rising stars was spotted as a youngster by Brighton, lashed home a brilliant finish from the corner of the box late on too, meaning he has now matched his tally (22) from the whole of last season in half the number of games.
“Gyokeres is breaking records at Sporting and, honestly, I can say he is better than me,” club legend Manuel Fernandes, a two-time Primeira Liga champion in the 1980s, tells A Bola.
“Since I left Sporting (37 years ago), I haven’t seen a striker as complete as him. There are equals, but better players? No.
“He is a complete player. He both scores and scores. This quality is crucial in a striker.”
Newcaslte, of course, are unable to make a move for Gyokeres this month, even if Sporting were willing to listen to offers. Magpies boss Eddie Howe recently spoke out about Newcastle’s struggles with Financial Fair Play, those concerns ki-boshing talk of a Dominic Solanke reunion or a deal for Tottenham’s new £26 million centre-back Radu Dragusin.
‘Like Liverpool or Bayern Munich’
“I hope he doesn’t leave Sporting anytime soon,” Fernandes adds. “It would be difficult for any club to activate his release clause in the winter market. If you have to leave, let it be to a big club, like Liverpool or Bayern Munich.
“Bu,t for now, it is clear that he is doing well at Sporting. He is a serious and focused player.”
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