Way-Too-Early Landing Spots for Sporting Striker Viktor Gyökeres

Viktor Gyökeres is arguably Europe's most wanted striker right now.

The 26-year-old Swede simply can't stop scoring, no matter the level. His recent record is astonishing: 16 in 11 matches for Sporting in the Primeira Liga, five in four in the UEFA Champions League, two in a 44-minute substitute appearance in the Taça da Liga.

Naturally, social media is awash with fans of various clubs wanting the former Coventry City star to come their way. Although it's unlikely he will move in the winter transfer window, the summer will put him front and centre in the gossip columns.

Let's look at the best potential landing spots for the sharpshooter.

No surprises about this one. Ruben Amorim's decision to join Manchester United will link a lot of Portugal-based players to the club.

His work with Gyökeres at Sporting quickly bore fruit and the readiness of the striker means he could be an effective solution for a Red Devils team that has scored only 12 Premier League goals in 11 matches this season. That's the same as newly promoted Ipswich Town, who have one win.

United's problem isn't a new one. They never adequately replaced Cristiano Ronaldo, who despite slowing down, put together a 24-goal season across the Premier League and Champions League upon his first season back.

Rasmus Hojlund is a talented and hard-working striker, but he is not going to score buckets of goals at this stage of his career. Joshua Zirkzee is still settling and seems caught between being a striker and a floaty, hard-to-pin down No. 10. Both are young and need nurturing, something Amorim is proven to excel at.

Yet, the new boss needs reinforcements immediately if he's going to settle. Gyökeres is a proven entity, a ready-made finisher who would elevate the confidence of a United attack that has the erratic Marcus Rashford as its figurehead.

Expect this one to run and run.

The old Arsenal problem continues to show itself.

Mikel Arteta is severely lacking a natural striker, someone who can provide a range of goals and makes defence-splitting runs in their sleep. This team has tremendous creativity that is blunted by essentially pushing a streaky attacking midfielder up front in the form of Kai Havertz.

While the Germany international should be commended for his efforts, there's enough evidence to know he isn't going to win Arsenal that long-awaited Premier League title.

Just dropping Gyökeres into a side that has Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli providing crosses from the wing and Martin Odegaard fizzing around behind him would make Arsenal more lethal.

Arteta is extremely loyal to the players who have worked so hard for him over the last few years, though. At a time when Arsenal appear to be running out of steam, he needs to show his ruthless side. That means cashing in on Gabriel Jesus, a man whose goalscoring prowess has long since dissipated.

At least Arsenal's defence is set for the next 47 years.

A dilemma has developed at Chelsea this season.

Despite a tough first year in which he was criticised too harshly, Nicolas Jackson is starting to look like an important part of the Blues' future.

The 23-year-old's touch is sharper, his runs more decisive and his finishing surprisingly lethal. This comes after a summer of speculation in which Victor Osimhen and others were linked with a move to lead the Enzo Maresca revolution.

What Maresca has done instead is highlight Chelsea's incredible depth. He has effectively outlined two lineups, one for the league and a second string for cup matches, with Christopher Nkunku and João Félix among those who can't get into the so-called 'A' team. That said, the Todd Boehly regime isn't one to settle and we can expect a big-name striker to land before too long.

Gyökeres should come into consideration here. Jackson's workload is likely to increase as Chelsea head towards more meaningful games in the second part of the season, so having an alternative central striker may well be paramount to getting the Stamford Bridge club back among the trophies.

Nkunku's injury issues will always remain a concern, and Félix is more effective out wide like so many at the club.

Gyökeres would represent great business in this eternal rebuild.

Gyökeres' biggest rival for the European Golden Shoe is likely to be Robert Lewandowski.

The Barcelona striker is having a phenomenal season with 19 goals in 17 matches across La Liga and the Champions League. He is 36 years old, though, and entering the twilight years of a historic career that looks like it could end with a bang.

Barca should be looking at Gyökeres as his replacement. There are similarities in playing style that would allow the Sporting man to slot right into a young team that should maintain the Hansi Flick structure for years to come.

Aside from his finishing prowess, Gyökeres is adept at playing in front of his man, starting moves with a quick pass before sprinting beyond the defence. He also spots space and attacks gaps in a similar way to Lewandowski, often appearing from nowhere to capitalise on a chance.

Flick is developing a cohesion that we haven't seen in years at the Camp Nou. Gyökeres hasn't taken long to settle at previous clubs and is the kind of player who works hard without being weighed down by expectation. That has to make him a potential long-term target to succeed a player who will leave such a giant gap.