Liverpool ‘Make Contact’ with Sporting CP Over Signing of Key Striker | OneFootball

Liverpool Eye Gyokeres Amid Sporting Tensions and Transfer Opportunity

Interest grows in prolific Swede

There’s an unmistakable intensity to Liverpool’s recruitment process this summer, a sense of evolution, not revolution. And in Viktor Gyokeres, the Premier League champions may have found a focal point for their next attacking phase.

As reported by CM Jornal, Liverpool have now joined the chase for the prolific Sporting CP striker. “Viktor Gyokeres is one of Liverpool’s targets to strengthen the attack. The Swede is on a short list to replace former Benfica player Darwin Nuñez, who will head to the Italians of Napoli.”

This isn’t idle speculation. According to the Portuguese outlet, Liverpool have tasked intermediaries with confirming Sporting’s expectations, reportedly around €80 million, below the €100 million release clause but still a significant outlay.

“Liverpool have been following the player for some time, according to the British press, but only in recent days have they given instructions to their emissaries to confirm with the Lions [Sporting CP] the values for a possible signing.”

Photo: IMAGO

Record-breaking numbers matched by uncertainty

Gyokeres’ numbers are the stuff of legend in Lisbon. In 2024–25, the 27-year-old netted 54 goals in 52 appearances. In total, he boasts 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting CP, a tally that helped deliver back-to-back Primeira Liga titles and two consecutive Bola de Prata awards.

Yet off the pitch, the mood is far from celebratory. The Swedish international finds himself at odds with the club hierarchy. Gyokeres and his agents claim Sporting president Frederico Varandas verbally agreed to sanction a move for around €70 million, a figure now dismissed by the club, who insist the release clause remains intact.

Varandas has accused the player’s representatives of “blackmail” tactics, saying Sporting “never promised” to forgo the full release clause. In response, Gyokeres has allegedly vowed not to return for preseason until a resolution is found.

Tactical fit and Premier League familiarity

Should Liverpool strike a deal, they would be securing a forward who blends physicality with mobility, a potent mix under Arne Slot’s emerging system. Gyokeres thrives on aggressive pressing, has a powerful frame, and possesses the kind of one-touch finishing that flourishes in high-tempo football.

His past experiences in England, at Brighton and later Coventry City, mean there would be fewer adaptation hurdles than for a player arriving cold to the Premier League. That familiarity, paired with the confidence of nearly 100 goals in two seasons, positions Gyokeres as a high-impact arrival.

Competition mounting for signature

Liverpool, however, are not alone. “After Arsenal and Manchester United, another English colossus enters the dispute for the signing of the Sporting striker,” writes CM Jornal. This will not be an uncontested signing.

Yet the timing may favour the Reds. With Darwin Núñez reportedly on the verge of sealing a move to Napoli, Liverpool’s need for a line-leading striker is immediate and clear. Slot’s desire to work with tactically flexible players makes Gyokeres an ideal candidate.

Photo IMAGO

This is a window that demands intelligence as well as ambition, and Liverpool may have found both in the towering Swede.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

The potential signing of Viktor Gyokeres would be welcomed with growing intrigue and cautious optimism. There’s no denying the talent, 97 goals in 102 games doesn’t lie, but it’s also his mentality and relentless work rate that fits what this Liverpool team is becoming under Arne Slot.

In many ways, Gyokeres is what fans hoped Darwin Núñez might develop into: ruthless, direct, yet composed. With Núñez’s exit on the horizon, the need for a ready-made, in-form striker is more pressing than ever. And Gyokeres—strong in the air, clever in the channels, relentless in the press—ticks a lot of boxes.

There’s also something fitting about Liverpool exploiting a tense situation with Sporting, much like they did in previous windows. If the finances can be agreed, supporters will back this move. He’s not just another name. He’s a forward ready to lead a line.