A former Premier League striker has delivered a stark warning about Viktor Gyokeres, claiming the Manchester United and Arsenal target will fail to replicate his success in England.
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Gyokeres, 26, has emerged as one of Europe’s hottest prospects after a prolific stint at Sporting Lisbon.
Since his £20m move from Coventry City in 2023, the Swedish forward has taken the Portuguese league by storm, scoring 43 goals in his debut season and already notching 26 this campaign.
Manchester United’s interest has intensified, particularly after appointing his former Sporting manager Ruben Amorim.
A potential reunion at Old Trafford is on the cards, although United’s recent £70m outlay on Rasmus Hojlund and £36.5m for Joshua Zirkzee complicates matters.
Arsenal, meanwhile, remain a viable option after struggling for firepower during key phases of the season.
Despite his remarkable form, former Watford striker Troy Deeney believes Gyokeres lacks the finishing quality to succeed in the Premier League.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Deeney admitted: “He works hard, he’s a good player, but I don’t see him as a natural finisher.
People will point to his stats, but this isn’t the same league as Portugal. If he were the answer for United or Arsenal, they’d have signed him already.”
Emmanuel Petit, however, has a different take, urging Gyokeres to consider Arsenal over Manchester United.
Petit believes Gyokeres could solve Arsenal’s attacking problems, claiming, “With Havertz misfiring as a number nine and Gabriel Jesus struggling, Gyokeres could be the missing piece Arteta needs.”
Gyokeres’ ability to link play and hold up the ball, Petit argues, makes him an ideal fit for the Gunners, unlike Manchester United, where competition for the striker role remains fierce.
The Swedish star underlined his value last weekend, scoring his 18th league goal in a 3-2 win over Boavista, keeping Sporting Lisbon four points clear at the top of the table. Whether Gyokeres can silence his critics in the Premier League remains to be seen.
