The most productive player in Europe’s top 10 leagues at the start of the new season is Victor Győkeres. The 26-year-old Swede from Sporting Lisbon is excelling in matches both at club level and with the national team in the Nations League. The striker was one of the most attractive figures in the transfer market in the summer of 2024. So why has Győkeres not moved anywhere despite continuing to score goals like a machine? Let’s look at the story of Victor, who will play in the Champions League against Lille today.
Győkeres’ statistics this season are truly phenomenal. Judge for yourself. Victor did not score only in the first official match for Porto in the Portuguese Super Cup. But in that match he made two assists. Sporting was leading 3:0 in the 24th minute, but still managed to lose 3:4.
The Portuguese Championship then began. In the first round against Rio Ave (3-1), Győkeres scored and provided an assist. In the round of 16 match against Nacional (6-1), the Swede of Hungarian origin scored twice. In the third round match against Farense (5-0), the Sporting striker scored a hat-trick. And on the fourth round, Victor helped his team get revenge on Porto. The Lisbon team won at home 2-0: Győkeres scored the first goal from a penalty, which he himself scored. In the fifth round he scored again, this time against Aroke (3-0).
During the international break, the striker was called up to the Swedish national team for the Nations League matches. In the first match, the Scandinavians beat Azerbaijan (3-1) away thanks to a goal and two assists from Gyökeres. And in the next round they beat Estonia at home (3-0). Victor left two balls. Thus, in eight games of the new season, the sniper of Sporting and the Swedish national team has 11 goals and five assists. Even Kylian Mbappé will now envy Győkeres’ statistics.
Victor Gyökeres in the Swedish national team
Photo: Michael Campanella/Getty Images
At the same time, there is no need to talk about any breakthrough for the Swede in 2024. Everyone already knew perfectly well that Győkeres was a super scorer. Last season he became the top scorer in the Portuguese Championship with 29 goals, eight goals ahead of his closest pursuer. He helped Sporting win the league title. In total, last season Victor scored 43 goals in 50 games in all competitions, including the Europa League (where he scored 5+2 in nine games). It is logical that the Swede was recognized as the best player in the Primeira Liga. And this recognition is actually a guarantee of transfer to a big club in the top league.
Of course, Sporting wants to get the most out of Gyökeres’ transfer in the current circumstances. The Lisbon club itself bought Victor for a lot of money in the summer of 2023, when the Swede became the second top scorer in the championship: it paid Coventry 24 million euros. The striker’s five-year contract included a powerful compensation clause of 24 million euros. 100 million euros. It all depends on these hundred.
There have been many rumours lately about the interest of top league clubs in Győkeres. In January, it was reported that Chelsea offered the Lisbon side €80 million and €5 million in bonuses for the transfer of the Swede. However, Sporting indicated in response to the compensation specified in Victor’s contract. They refused to sell for less.
Victor Gyökeres at Sporting
Photo: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
Then there was information about Győkeres’ contacts with Milan, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal in London. They wrote that even PSG is considering the Swedish striker as a replacement for Mbappé. However, no one has yet risked shelling out 100 million euros for Victor. Sporting remains firm in its position: the Portuguese know how to do business like few others on the football market.
It seemed that Arsenal were as close as possible to buying Győkeres. Negotiations were carried out throughout the summer until the end. But the deal did not materialise and, after the transfer window closed, the striker himself explained the reason.
“They wanted most of the starters to stay in the team and they kept us firm,” Victor told Aftonbladet, speaking about Sporting’s management. – That’s how it all turned out. But I like Sporting a lot, so it wasn’t a problem for me to stay. The price is probably too high because nothing worked out. Of course, this is a lot of money. But we’ll see what happens in the next window. Sporting thinks I’m worth that amount of money. You have to respect this. I don’t have any stress, although I always want to take a step forward.”
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Sporting coach Ruben Amorim admitted that he is not worried about the transfer situation with Győkeres. He was prepared to lose the attacking leader. “Selling players for a lot of money is the way Portuguese clubs remain competitive,” Amorim explained. He suggested waiting calmly for the transfer window to close.
At the end of August, it was reported that Sporting even seemed willing to make concessions, slightly reducing costs, and were already looking for a new striker. In particular, the name of Mateo Cassierra from Zenit was mentioned. But how true this was is unknown. The Swede remained at Sporting at least until the winter. In the meantime, the Lisbon club are going to increase Győkeres’ salary in order to keep him for a long time.
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