€100m Premier League target ‘a problem on and off the field’

Robin Bairner

Updated: 13 Feb 2025 11:56 GMT
3 min read

Viktor Gyokeres might be one of the most coveted players in the Premier League, but it is claimed that the Sweden international striker has become “a problem on and off the field” for Sporting CP.

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Gyokeres has been linked with a string of top clubs following his exploits at centre-forward for the Lisbon club this season. He has enjoyed a remarkable campaign in which he has scored 34 goals in 35 appearances, attracting interest in particular from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

STATS

Viktor Gyökeres

F (C)

Sporting CP

Viktor Gyökeres

F (C)

Sporting CP

35

Games
34

Goals
7

Assists

The Gunners see him as an alternative to their dream duo of Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) and Alexander Isak (Newcastle), while Chelsea were tentatively interested in him last summer. Man Utd’s interest is increasing, with Ruben Amorim the driving force at Old Trafford after working with the 26-year-old at Sporting.

But the Premier League giants have been sent a warning over a player who was once valued at €100 million in Portugal.

Viktor Gyokeres injury warning

The player is increasingly becoming a handicap to Sporting, according to JN.

Gyokeres has been nursing a mystery injury for some time, which the Lisbon outfit are at pains to deny is a knee problem.

“We can’t blame the injury”, head coach Rui Borges said after Gyokeres came up short during a 3-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday – a match that marked his third in succession without scoring, an unprecedented run for the striker.

“It’s not to do with a physical problem. It’s to do with shortness of breath, with the lungs.”

The striker failed to train on the eve of the Dortmund clash, which has led to questions as to why Sporting are being so secretive over what’s really going on.

“His explosive power has disappeared,” pundit Jose Calado noted on CMTV.

With Sporting being so discreet about what’s going on about Gyokeres, it is unclear if this is the type of long-term problem that could put off suitors.

It is notable that the Lisbon club have also dropped Gyokeres’ asking price from €100m to €70m ahead of the summer transfer window, though this is down to an agreement with the striker that they will allow him to leave should they receive a suitable bid.