Newcastle United has emerged as a prominent admirer of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres and was reportedly on the verge of securing his transfer from Coventry City. This information was disclosed by Record, which asserts that, apart from Sporting, Newcastle was the closest club to securing Gyokeres’ signature during the summer transfer window. Despite being under contract with Lisbon until 2028, concerns are mounting that the Sweden international may be snatched up next summer.
The report designates Newcastle as one of the primary contenders who could have signed Gyokeres before Sporting did. Intriguingly, Eddie Howe’s team did not acquire any other center-forward during the same transfer window when they expressed their interest.
Nevertheless, if they intend to revive their pursuit, they will now encounter competition from Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla, both of which have dispatched representatives to observe Sporting’s matches this season. Gyokeres has notably scored eight goals in his initial nine games for his new club, capturing the attention of various admirers.
Recognizing the increasing visibility of his talent, Sporting head coach Ruben Amorim has cautioned that anyone seeking to obtain Gyokeres should be aware of his €100 million (£87 million) release clause.
Amorim stated during a press conference, “The apprehension of losing him is universal. He is subject to a clause, and from what I understand, this year, only someone will leave if the clause is met. If they are willing to pay €100 million, and I emphasize 100 million, then he will be allowed to depart. Until then, he will remain a Sporting player.”
Newcastle’s current center-forwards, Gyokeres’ compatriot Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, who recently extended his contract at St. James’ Park, are in contention. However, there have been rumors linking Wilson to a move to Saudi Arabia.
At 25 years of age, Gyokeres previously scored one goal in eight games for Brighton, one in 12 for Swansea City, and 43 times in 116 appearances for Coventry during his time in English football. His performance in the Europa League with Sporting suggests that he may still have untapped potential to explore before reaching his peak.