Which club is best equipped to maximise Viktor Gyokeres’ full potential and help him reach world class status? | OneFootball

Viktor Gyokeres is probably one of the hottest names in football circles for the current transfer window. The Swedish forward has earned it with a stellar performance in the Portuguese league, resulting in several big names considering throwing offers his way.

All of them would offer a springboard for his career, but not all of them would serve as the right platform for developing him to his full potential.

The Next “100 million” Player?

Looking at it from a business perspective, Sporting did a stellar job by buying Gyokeres from Coventry City. The deal was a record investment for the Portuguese side and a huge windfall for the Championship club too, though the former are still set to make a massive profit.

Having paid an initial €20m for the forward, he now has a release clause of €100m in his contract at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. Sporting are reportedly set to allow him to leave for a little less than that figure, but even still, the club should at least triple their initial investment.

So far, several clubs have expressed interest in Gyokeres. England’s elite are plotting moves, with Ruben Amorim’s defection from Sporting to Manchester United making the Red Devils a contender. The latest bookmaker’s odds have Manchester United as favourites, though Arsenal – in search of a striker – Manchester City, Spurs and Liverpool are all named suitors. It’s staggering that Sporting snatched the striker from right under their nose of English clubs in the first place.

And it’s not a surprise everyone is after him. Gyokeres has outscored some of the finest names in Europe. He scored 27 goals in 25 games this season, outsourcing Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.

Goals are not in short supply. His game is built around direct runs. Even if the chance is not created, he can create himself. He’s a powerful runner and makes fast in-play transitions. Any of the previously mentioned clubs would benefit from a player like that, and all of them are desperate for a world-class scorer. But there’s an argument that a switch to Spain would better allow Gyokeres to reach his full potential. Though he thrived in England’s second tier, he has exploded in Portuguese football, where the game is played in a similar manner as in neighbouring Spain.

What Does Gyokeres Want?

Well, according to El Nacional, Barcelona have been his dream club since childhood. Though the Spaniards face economic challenges at present, their search for a striker is expected to start imminently.

Getting a chance at Camp Nou is something Gyokeres doesn’t want to miss by rushing to make a decision. And that’s smart. Lewandowski, at 36, is stacking up numbers that most younger players can only dream of; 25 goals in 26 games across La Liga and the Champions League this season. That’s not the kind of output you expect from someone in the supposed decline of their career.

Then again, maybe that’s the point. Of course, there’s the lingering question – how much longer can he go? Barca know this as well, and they are surely looking for his replacement. Surely, Gyokeres will be considered a successor. He and Lewandowski have some of the same traits, and Sporting’s setup has done him no harm.

Flick is pulling together something rare at Camp Nou, a cohesion absent from Barca for a long time now. Meanwhile, Gyökeres, who seems to carry his adaptability in his back pocket, has shown at every stop that he doesn’t buckle under pressure. Players like that don’t come around often. So, yes, maybe he’s someone Barca should keep in mind for the long haul, especially when replacing someone like Lewandowski.

What’s certain, is it is set to be an almighty scramble to sign the Swede.

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