Premier League rivals Leeds United and West Ham like Viktor Gyokeres and one Coventry City team-mate believes the Championship hitman is worth up to £30 million in today’s market.
It may have seemed a bit of a desperate move, in the eyes of some, when Sweden brought a 41-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic out of retirement recently. But if Zlatan is the past – and the present to, at the least for a little while – at least the future is in good hands.
Gyokeres, 17 years Ibrahimovic’s junior, took his tally to 22 goals and ten assists for 2022/23 with a typically rambunctious performance during Coventry’s 2-0 victory over Birmingham City last time out. A result which all-but secures a play-off spot for Mark Robins’ side.
But, with clubs from the division above expressing an interest, veteran defender Kyle McFadzean is under no illusions about the size of the task facing the Sky Blues this summer.
“I think the only way we are keeping him is if we get promoted,” McFadzean tells CBS Sports. “That’s just me being brutally honest. You can’t score that many goals and be that good (without clubs wanting to sign you).”
Leeds and West Ham like Coventry City’s Viktor Gyokeres
According to the Daily Mail, Leeds sent scouts to watch Gyokeres in April. The Sun reports that West Ham boss David Moyes has been keeping a very close eye on the former Swansea City youngster too, with Gianluca Scamacca reportedly in line for a return to Serie A.
“For me, it’s got to be at the right price,” McFadzean adds. “Don’t let him go for less than £25 million. I’d even ask for £30 million. I don’t think that’s asking too much either because there’s no-one like him around.”
Gyokeres’ fearsome blend of pace, power and finesse have led to comparisons with another Scandinavian goal-machine of late.
“He looks a yard more powerful and a yard quicker than everyone else. He’s a really confident boy,” Tony Mowbray said after his Sunderland side found themselves on the wrong end of another Gyokeres masterclass; the Sweden international scoring one and setting up the other in a 2-1 win.
“I don’t want to say he should test himself in the Premier League. But who is like him in the Premier League at the moment?
“Who is too fast, too strong and too big? You would suggest Haaland is like that. And Gyokeres, in this league, looks a yard faster and stronger than the players he plays against in the Championship.”
Leeds will go head-to-head with Haaland this weekend; Sam Allardyce travelling to Manchester City in a daunting start to his Elland Road career.
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