Chelsea Deny Interest in Sporting Striker Viktor Gyokeres

Chelsea Football Club has denied reports of their interest in Viktor Gyokeres, the striker for Sporting Lisbon. Despite rumors from Portugal claiming that Chelsea had made a £73 million bid for the 25-year-old forward, the club has stated that he is not one of their transfer targets. Sporting Lisbon is demanding his £87 million release clause be paid in full, which Chelsea is not willing to meet.

The Blues have been linked with a number of other options for a new forward in the January transfer window. Brentford’s Ivan Toney, Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy, Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez, and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko are among the names being considered. However, Chelsea is cautious in their approach as they evaluate their current players like Armando Broja and assess the availability of talented prospects like Christopher Nkunku.

Furthermore, Chelsea must also ensure that any signings they make comply with the Premier League’s spending rules. The club is keen to find stability after a busy summer transfer window and is focused on building a sustainable squad for long-term success. They are looking for a clinical edge in their attacking play to improve their results against defensively disciplined opponents.

Viktor Gyokeres has been in exceptional form for Sporting Lisbon since his move from Coventry City for around £17 million in the summer. He has scored an impressive 20 goals and provided 10 assists in 24 appearances in the Primeira Liga. The Swedish striker has a release clause of around £86 million, which makes any potential deal a costly one for Chelsea.

Chelsea’s approach to signings has been to target players earlier in their progression, acquiring young talents with high potential resale value. However, the club understands the importance of landing an elite striker in the next two transfer windows if Nkunku, Broja, and Jackson fail to consistently deliver enough goals. Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s manager, has made it clear that he has not claimed the club needs a new forward, but he remains open to the possibility of making a move if necessary.