Viktor Gyokeres has scored 97 goals in 102 club matches over the past couple of seasons so it’s little surprise he’s involved in a transfer tug-of-war between some of the biggest teams in the Premier League.
Sporting Lisbon’s Sweden striker has been linked with reigning champions Liverpool as well as Manchester United and Arsenal, while Chelsea could become involved if they fail to land other targets.
It is little wonder then the ambitions 27-year-old former Coventry City marksman rejected a move to Saudi club Al-Hilal before the additional transfer window for the Fifa Club World Cup closed on Tuesday.
It reopens on Monday and runs until September 1 but Gyokeres is almost certain to find new employers before the end of this month.
Liverpool could snap him up as a replacement for Darwin Nunez, who appears to be leaving Anfield following an underwhelming time this season when he scored just seven goals for Arne Slot’s Reds.
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That was in stark contrast to the 18 goals and 15 strikes in the previous two campaigns under previous manager Jurgen Klopp and Nunez is not short of admirers, especially in Italy where Serie A clubs may consider him a bargain if he costs much less than the £71million Liverpool paid Benfica for his services.
Gyokeres, who cost Sporting £17m from Coventry in 2023, proved he can cut it at the highest level with six goals in eight Champions League matches this term and was believed to be heading to Old Trafford where he would once again work for Sporting boss Ruben Amorim.
But the Portuguese club are reported to have ditched a gentleman’s agreement promising Gyokeres he could leave this summer if any club agreed to pay £58m for him and it is believed the price tag has been increased to £69m.
That would still represent terrific value but may price United out of the bidding given they have numerous holes to repair throughout their underachieving squad and that they are cutting costs at the club.
They have just signed Matheus Cunha from Wolves and are in a battle with Tottenham to add Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, so Gyokeres may be the odd man out.
Viktor Gyokeres next club odds
That makes odds of no better than 1/2 ON with Bet Victor for the Scandinavian to join this year’s Europa League runner-ups anything but tempting, especially as prices can be extremely volatile in markets like this.
Arsenal are in desperate need for someone to bang in 20 Premier League goals to boost their chances of winning a first title in more than two decades and are 12/1 with William Hill to snap up valiant Viktor but also have numerous options available.
Liverpool’s strong squad, their title success and strong interest may leave them best-placed to sign him at 14/1 with bet365.
World Cup odds: England look miles away from being contenders next summer
It’s just a year until the next World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico and England’s dream of winning the biggest trophy in sport looks further away than it has done for ages.
The shocking 3-1 defeat to Senegal and the dismal 1-0 victory in the World Cup qualifier with the minnows from Andorra have put Thomas Tuchel under intense pressure to turn things around after just four games in charge.
Wales showed far more fight in their absorbing 4-3 defeat in Belgium on Monday while Portugal, Spain and France are playing football that’s so advanced to the stale stuff served up by the Three Lions that it’s difficult to quantify.
England are 7/1 fourth favourites with Bet Victor, Ladbrokes, Coral and bet365 to win next year’s World Cup final in New Jersey and even shorter elsewhere. Do me a favour!!!
From what we have seen in the past week they should be also-rans and Spain look the best bet at 7/1 with numerous firms.
Greyhound derby odds
Greyhound racing couldn’t wish for a better Derby final at Towcester on Saturday than the sensational showdown between defending champion De Lahdedah and Bockos Diamond, winner of the Irish equivalent in Dublin last year.
The other four finalists are also capable of winning the £175,000 first prize, including Cheap Sandwiches who was in our ante-post portfolio at 16/1.
That being said, Bockos Diamond has a plum draw in trap six and can use his lightning pace at the start to burst into a lead by the first which won’t be relinquished and could threaten the track record.
He’s 11/10 with sponsors StarSports to triumph for former Portsmouth and Hove trainer Graham Holland, now operating in Ireland, and just 5/1 with Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Sports to defend his Irish crown at Shelbourne Park in September and enhance his reputation as the fastest dog on the planet.
