Arsenal and Chelsea both had scouts in Portugal on Tuesday night to watch Viktor Gyokeres open the scoring in Sporting Lisbon’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Lille.
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The Sweden international might have been off target with a couple of early attempts as last season’s Primeira Liga leaders dominated from the off against their French opponents. But it always felt like only a matter of time before one of Viktor Gyokeres’ shots found it’s way into Lucas Chevalier’s net.
And that moment arrived with 38 minutes on the clock, the former Coventry City and Swansea striker swivelling on a sixpence and firing an effort into the bottom corner.
With scouts working on behalf of Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea both in attendance at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, Gyokeres ensured that his remarkable return continued while netting on his first-ever appearance in Europe’s leading club competition.
HITC understands that London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea will go into 2025 with a centre-forward near the top of their transfer wishlist.
Viktor Gyokeres watched by Arsenal and Chelsea
Arsenal, despite the best efforts of an ever-improving Kai Havertz, remain without a top-class number nine. A weakness Gunners legend Paul Merson fears could cost his old employers the Premier League title for a third year running.
“Arsenal might be short of a centre forward,” Merson told Sky Sports last week, Mikel Arteta’s runners-up bringing in only a midfielder in the all-action Mikel Merino and £33 million defender Riccardo Calafiori.
“I’m not sure they did enough in the transfer window.”
Chelsea, meanwhile, are still reliant for goals upon the eternally inconsistent Nicolas Jackson.
Enzo Maresca’s side did look into summer deals for the likes of Alexander Isak and Jhon Duran, while a deal for Samu Omorodion collapsed at the eleventh hour.
The prolific Gyokeres – who’s agent confirmed interest from the Premier League a few months back – now appears to be one of the leading candidates on the Stamford Bridge radar.
HITC can confirm that Chelsea and Arsenal both rate the one-time Brighton and Hove Albion prospect extremely highly.
Gyokeres was one of the brightest attacking talents in the Championship during his time at Coventry. After coming up against him in a clash with Sunderland, former Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray likened his emphatic finishing and fearsome running power to that of Erling Haaland.
Gyokeres has taken his game to an all-new level over in Portugal, however.
52 goals in 57 games for Sporting Lisbon talisman
After providing 43 goals and 15 assists in 50 games in his debut season, Gyokeres has now struck nine in seven appearances so far this.
The Stockholm-born 26-year-old has an £84 million release clause in his Sporting contract. Head coach Ruben Amorim – who was on Chelsea’s radar himself when Clearlake dispensed with Mauricio Pochettino – is keen to extract every single penny out of his striker’s lofty valuation.
“It’s a very high clause,” Amorim tells CNN Portugal.
“Gyokeres is a great player, and I think he’s worth 100 million euros. That’s the price he has and we have to go ahead with it. Whoever wants to (sign him) will have to pay 100 million euros.”
HITC understands that, while Sporting are refusing to budge publicly, behind the scenes there is a feeling that Gyokeres could be sold for a lower fee.
It is believed that Sporting could be willing to accept offers in the £60 million region. Gyokeres may also sign a new contract in the Portuguese capital, albeit one that swaps his £84 million clause for a lower one.
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