Why Chelsea and Arsenal want to sign Viktor Gyokeres

Transfers
Why Chelsea and Arsenal want to sign Viktor Gyokeres
Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has been tearing it up in Portugal
The Swede has attracted interest from Chelsea and Arsenal already
An £86m release clause makes him an expensive forward solution this summer

By Ewan Ross-Murray
Apr 11, 2024
Viktor Gyokeres has surpassed expectations in Portugal
Viktor Gyokeres has surpassed expectations in Portugal / Carlos Rodrigues/GettyImages
Brighton are notoriously savvy in their business dealings, but the sale of Viktor Gyokeres may be one occasion in which they have seriously missed the mark.

The Swede was snapped up by the Seagulls having shown plenty of promise at a young age and was swiftly sent out on loan to St Pauli, Swansea City and Coventry City, the latter being where he eventually found a permanent home.

Brighton allowed him to leave for pennies in 2021 and he went on to thrive in the Championship, securing a lucrative switch to Sporting CP last summer. Expectations may have been high for the 25-year-old, but he blew them out of the water.

Gyokeres has been a transformative figure up top in Ruben Amorim's exciting Sporting side, helping propel the Lisbon club to the top of the Primeira Liga and the Taca de Portugal final. He has been relentless in front of goal since his move and is now, rather understandably, attracting interest from some of Europe's elite sides.

Two of those keeping a close eye on Gyokeres are Chelsea and Arsenal, but why are the Premier League duo so intrigued by Sporting's sensational striker?

Why is Viktor Gyokeres attracting transfer interest?
Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP celebrates a goal during the...
Gyokeres with his famous and mysterious celebration / SOPA Images/GettyImages
It's probably too simple to say that the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal want to sign Gyokeres for his goalscoring ability, but it doesn't make it any less true. The attacker has been finding the back of the net with astonishing regularity this season, boasting 36 strikes in just 42 matches to date.

Unsurprisingly, the bulk have come in the league, but he has also been prolific in the Europa League and Portuguese cup.

Goals are not his only telling contributions in the final third, with 15 assists to his name as well this season. The 20-cap Sweden international has shown his usefulness as a provider as well as a finisher.

But aside from his direct goal contributions, Gyokeres has attracted attention for his general brilliance. The striker is a true all-rounder, using his stocky 6'1 frame to bully opposition centre-backs, as well as his speed and dribbling ability to torment them with runs in behind.

His link-up play is impressive, being able to knit things together as a member of Amorim's 3-4-3 system, and he also enjoys running into the channels to draw defenders out of position. When he eventually gets in the box, few goalkeepers can match the ferocity and accuracy of his shots.

The stats certainly back up Gyokeres' claim as one of the most promising strikers in world football. In the Primeira Liga, he ranks top of the goal (22) and expected goals (15.9) charts, as well as second for assists (10).

He also sits in the top four per cent of forwards in the division for progressive carries (3.9), successful take-ons (2.24) and goal-creating actions (0.73) per 90 this term, as well as the top one per cent for touches in the opposition penalty area (8.93) and carries into the penalty area (2.86).

Gyokeres boasts some good physical stats too with a solid 46.2% aerial duel win rate, using his physique and athleticism to duel with opposition defenders, or simply spin in behind them.

Why do Chelsea and Arsenal want Viktor Gyokeres?
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta may want a more clinical centre-forward this summer / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
Both Chelsea and Arsenal have faced criticism at times this season for not boasting a more orthodox and, most significantly, clinical number nine. While the Gunners have coped far, far better without a 30-goal centre-forward, both teams have sometimes lacked a ruthless finisher in the final third.

That's an area in which both sides are expected to strengthen this summer. For Chelsea, their xG underperformance highlights the need for a traditional striker, someone with greater experience than the young and unpolished Nicolas Jackson. Armando Broja is another option in reserve, currently on loan at Fulham, but he could well be sold this summer.

From an Arsenal perspective, a goal-getting central striker may be the only weakness in an otherwise excellent squad. Gabriel Jesus has admitted that scoring goals isn't his forte, while Kai Havertz has been hit-and-miss in the final third and is never likely to be an extremely clinical attacker.

Eddie Nketiah largely gathers dust on the bench and, similarly to Broja at Chelsea, may be sold this summer to help facilitate a big-money move for someone like Gyokeres.

What's the latest on Viktor Gyokeres to Chelsea and Arsenal?
One thing that may put both London clubs off a move this summer is Gyokeres' price tag. He currently boasts an £86m release clause in his current Sporting deal, although whether that fee could be negotiated remains to be seen.

90min has previously revealed that both Chelsea and Arsenal have scouted Gyokeres and are keeping close tabs on him, although they have not placed the forward at the top of their wishlists this summer.

However, Gyokeres' agent has recently revealed that his client may find it difficult to stay at Sporting this summer should current coach Amorim leave the club. The 39-year-old manager has been strongly linked with replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, while the likes of Chelsea and Barcelona are also monitoring him.

Gyokeres' agent claimed that one of the key factors in Gyokeres' decision to join the Lisbon side was Amorim, with the Portuguese coach's potential exit throwing his number nine's future into serious doubt as well.

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Bellingham's form has plummeted / David Ramos/GettyImages
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Reports from SPORT claim worry is starting to build for Madrid after paying a sum of €103m (£88.5m) for Bellingham in the summer, with the player looking tired in recent performances.

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Madrid return to action on Saturday when they face Mallorca before travelling to Manchester to take on Pep Guardiola's side again.

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