Chelsea make transfer decision on €100m Darwin Nunez clone

Tom Weber

• Updated: 16 Jan 2024 11:14 GMT
• 9 min read

Chelsea have no interest in pursuing Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres, according to a report.

The Blues are in the market for a striker, especially now that Christopher Nkunku is again injured and Nicolas Jackson is competing at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. Chelsea's main target remains Victor Osimhen.

However, there is seemingly no way to strike a deal in January, with the Nigerian having recently extended his contract with Napoli, adding a whopping €130 million release clause. Therefore, if Chelsea would want to bring in a reinforcement this month, they would need to look at different players.

One of the Blues' rumoured targets has been Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP, though he is not much cheaper than Osimhen due to a €100m release clause. In fact, early on Tuesday, Portuguese outlet Record claimed that the London giants had launched an €85m bid that was subsequently knocked back by Sporting.

However, it seems that this report could not have been further off the mark.

Chelsea not interested in Gyokeres

According to the Evening Standard, the Blues have no interest in moving for Gyokeres due to their interest in Osimhen. They did not table an offer for the Swede - and this is the right decision.

Though Gyokeres has been in stunning form in Portugal, notching 20 goals and 10 assists in just 24 games, FootballTransfers previously explained that the former Brighton and Coventry man could become another Darwin Nunez.

The two forwards profile similarly, with both being the textbook definition of a mobile striker and having the same physical build. Moreover, like Gyokeres, Nunez had been prolific in Portugal and in a second division (in his case in Spain), but the Uruguayan has been unable to match that level in the Premier League.

Given the money required to sign Gyokeres, it seems a smart choice to not take the gamble and risk falling into the same trap as Liverpool.