Viktor Gyokeres Next Club Odds: After Sporting Lisbon

Arsenal currently lead the betting for Viktor Gyokeres’ signature, and it’s hard to deny the obvious, which is that the Swede would solve a major problem the Gunners currently have – the absence of an out-and-out striker.

Arsenal haven’t struggled for goals this season, but they have lacked a difference maker in tight matches and with 52 goals to his name across all competitions this season, it’s fair to say Gyokeres is a player who could make a difference in those matches.

In addition to sticking the ball in the net, Gyokeres is an intelligent striker too, which will appeal to Mikel Arteta’s way of playing.

One of the key reasons the Spaniard has persisted with Kai Havertz as a false nine is because of his ability to link play and hold the ball up.

With Gyokeres offering those abilities to a certain extent and also being capable of stretching teams, pressing and lethally finishing he’d be nailed on to improve Arsenal’s XI whilst a move to the Emirates is sure to appeal to the player with Arsenal competing for, albeit it not winning, the Premier League over recent seasons.

Whether or not Gyokeres is top of Arsenal’s striker list, however, remains to be seen, with it well-known that there are other centre forwards Arteta and co appreciate.

Transfer links with Manchester United are both obvious and, arguably, a tad on the lazy side, but we guess you can’t rule anything out where United are concerned.

Their need for a striker is clear for all to see, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee nowhere near the level they need either now or in the future. Gyokeres is.

With Ruben Amorim at the helm, they would have a chance of at least opening up a conversation with the Sporting frontman.

Gyokeres’ record in Portugal is ridiculous, but most of that success has come under the steering hand of United’s boss, under whom Gyokeres played 68 games.

He scored a total of 66 goals in that time. Is his relationship with his former boss strong enough to convince him to go to a project club like United at this stage of his career?

United fans certainly hope so, and Bruno Fernandes popping up on the striker's Instagram post has intensified rumours.

After what has been an incredible two years in Portugal for Gyokeres, the bookies still have a potential Sporting stay down for the striker.

That seems to be a highly unlikely outcome considering the managerial change that happened part way through the season, together with the fact Sporting aren’t realistically going to achieve much outside of domestic competition. Throw in the release clause that exists in his contract, and it feels inevitable someone activates it.

Chelsea are said to be in the market for a number nine this summer but, let’s be honest, under Todd Boehly’s ownership, when aren’t they.

From an affordability perspective, they could splash out the reported £70m needed to sign without Gyokeres without too many concerns and, as we’ve already detailed, he’d bring something to any side.

Despite that, Chelsea are a work in progress at the moment and if that’s the sort of move Gyokeres has in mind, you’d imagine he’ll opt for Old Trafford where he knows what he’s getting into with respect of having that pre-existing relationship with the manager.

Outside of him staying put, Atletico Madrid are the shortest price in Viktor Gyokeres’ next club odds at a club outside of England.

Even at 12/1, we would argue this isn’t a value wager, though. Atletico Madrid aren’t shy about throwing money about when the time suits and have gone big on players from the Primeira Liga previously; remember Joao Felix?

The issue we see with this deal is twofold. Firstly, Atleti splashed over £100m last summer to bring in two strikers – Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth, which means they are unlikely to drop another sizeable fee on another attacker this year.

Secondly, Gyokeres isn’t going to go to a club where he isn’t the main man, particularly when that club isn’t challenging regularly for the very highest prizes.