Victor Gyökeres

[Dan_F]

Maybe Vardy? granted he stayed longer than I thought he would have. Also wasn't Hojlund signed for ~60 million? I think the CF market is very competitive... even if we are to spend it on a potential, it's gonna be ~40-50 million easily. If he's a top talent. So in the end CF isn't exactly a position you'd want/can penny pinch. Unless if it's a raw talent, in which case we be better go with academy players. Normally I'd be supportive of talents like Zirkzee. Unfortunately he looks slow and we've seen it time and time again with slow players in PL.... unless if they're exceptional at everything else (touch, finishing, and positioning) then they usually struggle. Applies to both forwards and wingers.

Yep I think Vardy is the main example, but there really isn’t many of them. I don’t see anything that Gyokeres does that’s Hojlund doesn’t have the potential to do. I’d much rather see if we can develop him in the same system, rather than spend another £70 million.

All we’ve heard from Ineos is about how they want to buy potential with resale value so I don’t see us spending this type of money on a 26 year old. We’ll see how he does in the second half of the season with a new manager. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the hype die, we’ve seen players with purple patches score a lot of goals before. Fully accept that I might be wrong though, I don’t watch him closely at all.

 

[SilentWitness]

Is there? Strikers that have been a championship level player at 25 and then suddenly become world class players for the last few years of their career?

I’m sure there’s probably some, but I doubt the buying club risked £70 million on them.

There are examples like Vardy who have gone from that level, Luca Toni/Immobile/Di Natale etc in Italy that have put up average numbers and then exploded late on, and then players who have been good and then took it up another notch in their latter career too. My point is that development isn't the same for each player which a lot of people in threads and football these days appear to think. It depends on so many variables.

 

[lysglimt]

It can't be interpolated like that.

Darwin Nunez scored 4 goals in 6 games against the elite teams of Liveprool, Barca and Bayern in UCL in 21-22.
But turned out he is still a 9-10 goals a season striker in England.

Similarly, David Bentley scored hatrick against Man Utd and we cannot interpolate that Bentley will roll over other EPL teams.

Dennis Bailey scored a hat-trick against United in 1992 - in the other 39 games he played for QPR he scored 7 goals. 3 seasons later he played for Gillingham

 

[RedC]

I don’t see anything that Gyokeres does that’s Hojlund doesn’t have the potential to do.

Not that I'm advocating for signing another striker, but there's quite a difference between someone scoring a heap of goals and someone that has the potential to do it, regardless of age etc.

 

[Deco10Legend]

People are acting like no world-class talents come out of the Portuguese league just because half of the clubs aren't that great. Weird take

Exactly, Liverpool have Luis Diaz and Jota that play well. Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes and Ederson at City.

Just because Darwin was overpriced doesn’t mean that every signing from Portugal is a failure.

United has been buying from the Dutch/German/Italian leagues and they are not setting the world on fire.

It’s always a bit of a gamble and various aspects affect the player performance. Coach, tactics, ambience, etc

 

[OverratedOpinion]

Exactly, Liverpool have Luis Diaz and Jota that play well. Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes and Ederson at City.

Just because Darwin was overpriced doesn’t mean that every signing from Portugal is a failure.

United has been buying from the Dutch/German/Italian leagues and they are not setting the world on fire.

It’s always a bit of a gamble and various aspects affect the player performance. Coach, tactics, ambience, etc

To be fair Utd's best signing in over 10 years came from the Portuguese league.

But it is also equally fair to say that Gyokeres plays against very average sides most weeks.

All signings are a risk regardless.

 

[Deco10Legend]

To be fair Utd's best signing in over 10 years came from the Portuguese league.

But it is also equally fair to say that Gyokeres plays against very average sides most weeks.

All signings are a risk regardless.

That’s true. The Portuguese league is mostly average sides but it’s not like he doesn’t play well against Porto and Benfica. I’m sick of him tbh ahah

And he is now playing well on the champions league which was what most people were dubious about.

 

[Raoul]

Yep I think Vardy is the main example, but there really isn’t many of them. I don’t see anything that Gyokeres does that’s Hojlund doesn’t have the potential to do. I’d much rather see if we can develop him in the same system, rather than spend another £70 million.

All we’ve heard from Ineos is about how they want to buy potential with resale value so I don’t see us spending this type of money on a 26 year old. We’ll see how he does in the second half of the season with a new manager. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the hype die, we’ve seen players with purple patches score a lot of goals before. Fully accept that I might be wrong though, I don’t watch him closely at all.

Hojlund has hypothetical talent that may or may not develop over time. Gyokeres is already developed and demonstrating it week in week out, both for club and country. The first goal in his hat trick v City is a good example of what he could do for us.

Viktor Gyokeres stats for club and country 2024/25​

• Games – 24​

• Goals – 32​

• Assists – 10​

• Minutes per goal – 62.7 minute​

• Minutes per goal involvement – 47.8 minutes​

 

[Highfather_24]

I fear he will be Amorim's Antony.

 

[Rojofiam]

The first goal in his hat trick v City is a good example of what he could do for us.

Score from transitions?

 

[Berbaclass]

Hojlund has hypothetical talent that may or may not develop over time. Gyokeres is already developed and demonstrating it week in week out, both for club and country. The first goal in his hat trick v City is a good example of what he could do for us.

Viktor Gyokeres stats for club and country 2024/25​

• Games – 24​

• Goals – 32​

• Assists – 10​

• Minutes per goal – 62.7 minute​

• Minutes per goal involvement – 47.8 minutes​

Those numbers are incredible tbf.

 

[Raoul]

Those numbers are incredible tbf.

Indeed. He seems in the prime of his career, so next summer would be an ideal time to move to a bigger club.

 

[Eurotrash]

I fear he will be Amorim's Antony.

Nah. Antony scored 18 goals in 57 apperances at Ajax. Pretty far from Gyokeres numbers.

 

[Rojofiam]

Why do you think signing one of the most sought after strikers in Europe for £65m is a mistake?

I think he isn't the striker that United, or any top club's fans would like and expect him to be, if their club signed him.

 

[SirScholes]

Nah. Antony scored 18 goals in 57 apperances at Ajax. Pretty far from Gyokeres numbers.

From out wide

 

[Cloud7]

We cannot bet everything on potential coming good in a few years. The fact is that most young players, even high potential ones, will end up not being good enough to be part of a title winning United team. We have had many good young players in the past so there might be some expectation that all high potential young players can become that, but that is very unrealistic.

Hojlund may be really good in three years time, but he could also be sold and be plodding around in Turkey by then. The team needs some players who can perform now, not just for the sake of progress but also to ease some of the burden on the developing players. We can't keep thinking about the future while ignoring the present.

 

[USREDEVIL]

After we buy him...

Goals are for egos.
Stats monster but can't track back.
He only scores goals, that's all he can do........................................................................................

 

[seegoblu]

Given the similar prices, I wonder if Ruben would prefer to go for Osimhen in the summer instead?

 

[Berbaclass]

I think he isn't the striker that United, or any top club's fans would like and expect him to be, if their club signed him.

What a bizarre take. You don't think clubs will have scouted him extensively?

 

[IrishRedDevil]

We need another striker. Makes so much sense. He can be the more senior guy with Hojlund and Zirkzee given time to learn. Takes the pressure away from the younger guys.

 

[Rojofiam]

What a bizarre take. You don't think clubs will have scouted him extensively?

I'm sure they have, but I was talking about the fans and their expectations. It's also telling that no one went anywhere near him for 86m last summer.

If a top PL club goes for him next summer, I think they'll be making a mistake.

 

[sullydnl]

What a bizarre take. You don't think clubs will have scouted him extensively?

Liverpool, United, PSG and Atletico were all reportedly interested in Darwin Nunez too, and presumably also scouted him extensively, off the back of a season in which he scored a lot of goals (better goals per 90 that season than Gyokeres had last season).

And that transfer thread was full of people saying things like "he's a top class forward in top class form, we'd be mad to not go for him, he's exactly what we need". And so on.

But as Nunez has proven since making that big money move, none of that is a guarantee of anything.

 

[Berbaclass]

Liverpool, United, PSG and Atletico were all reportedly interested in Darwin Nunez too, and presumably also scouted him extensively, off the back of a season in which he scored a lot of goals (better goals per 90 that season than Gyokeres had last season).

And that transfer thread was full of people saying things like "he's a top class forward in top class form, we'd be mad to not go for him, he's exactly what we need". And so on.

But as Nunez has proven since making that big money move, none of that is a guarantee of anything.

Right so becasue Darwin Nunez didn't work out as well as some expected it means Gyokeres wouldn't?

I get your point but they are completely different players at different stages of their development.

 

[Berbaclass]

I'm sure they have, but I was talking about the fans and their expectations. It's also telling that no one went anywhere near him for 86m last summer.

If a top PL club goes for him next summer, I think they'll be making a mistake.

Yeah, I misread your post. The fans expectations are nothing to do with the player if they haven't watched the guy play before.

 

[CM]

Yep I think Vardy is the main example, but there really isn’t many of them. I don’t see anything that Gyokeres does that’s Hojlund doesn’t have the potential to do. I’d much rather see if we can develop him in the same system, rather than spend another £70 million.

All we’ve heard from Ineos is about how they want to buy potential with resale value so I don’t see us spending this type of money on a 26 year old. We’ll see how he does in the second half of the season with a new manager. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the hype die, we’ve seen players with purple patches score a lot of goals before. Fully accept that I might be wrong though, I don’t watch him closely at all.

I tend to agree on Hojlund but it's not as though he won't be given the opportunity to impress before the summer. In a lot of ways Amorim taking over mid season is ideal for longer term squad planning. We'll get to see 6 months of what he can do with the current players before the club takes decisions on which areas to target in the summer. I doubt we'll do much, if anything, in January.

We'll almost certainly need to sign a striker in the summer either way, but by then we should have enough indication of whether Hojlund can be the main man or not. If not, a signing like Gyokeres might make more sense.

 

[Dan_F]

There are examples like Vardy who have gone from that level, Luca Toni/Immobile/Di Natale etc in Italy that have put up average numbers and then exploded late on, and then players who have been good and then took it up another notch in their latter career too. My point is that development isn't the same for each player which a lot of people in threads and football these days appear to think. It depends on so many variables.

They were all playing and scoring in Serie A before they were 25. Especially in the early 2000s, the standard of the Portuguese league is incomparable. I’d also have been really disappointed if United signed any of those players mentioned at the time.

I’m not saying it’s not possible, but it’s just a huge risk for the kind of outlay we’re talking about. None of those players you’ve mentioned transferred for significant money in their careers, let alone before they had proven they could do it in a top league.

 

[Dan_F]

Hojlund has hypothetical talent that may or may not develop over time. Gyokeres is already developed and demonstrating it week in week out, both for club and country. The first goal in his hat trick v City is a good example of what he could do for us.

Viktor Gyokeres stats for club and country 2024/25​

• Games – 24​

• Goals – 32​

• Assists – 10​

• Minutes per goal – 62.7 minute​

• Minutes per goal involvement – 47.8 minutes​

Against Championship/League one level teams, while playing for a Champions league level team, which (hopefully) had a really special manager with a great tactical set up.

Everyone knows the numbers, but it’s pointless without context. Gyokeres’ ability to score lots of goals in the Premier League is as just as hypothetical.

 

[Remember the geese]

Everyone knows the numbers, but it’s pointless without context.

What about the goals he's scored in the Champions League and internationally?

 

[Raoul]

Against Championship/League one level teams, while playing for a Champions league level team, which (hopefully) had a really special manager with a great tactical set up.

Everyone knows the numbers, but it’s pointless without context. Gyokeres’ ability to score lots of goals in the Premier League is as just as hypothetical.

Consider the logic of what you’re saying. None of CR7, Nani, or Bruno would’ve been good transfers because they came from a league whose quality you deem unacceptable. By that logic, none of Lewandowski, Falcao, Vidic, Kvaratskhelia at Napoli, Di Maria, and countless other players would’ve been unacceptable to you because you didn’t approve of the respective smaller leagues they were bought from; but apparently the likes of Hojlund and Zirkzee were acceptable because you consider Serie-A a better league.

That makes no sense at all. You analyze the player based on his specific skills relative to the style a manager wants to play, and if it’s a match you buy them.

 

[Deco10Legend]

Consider the logic of what you’re saying. None of CR7, Nani, Bruno would’ve been good transfers because they came from a league whose quality you deem unacceptable. By that logic, none of Lewandowski, Falcao, Vidic, Kvaratskhelia at Napoli, Di Maria, and countless other players would’ve been unacceptable to you because you didn’t approve of the respective leagues they were bought from; but apparently the likes of Hojlund and Zirkzee were acceptable because you consider Serie-A a better league.

That makes no sense at all. You analyze the player based on his specific skills relative to the style a manager wants to play, and if it’s a match you buy them.

Exactly.
What about all the wonder kids from Brazil?

If you’re waiting for a sure thing, someone else will buy those players.

 

[pacifictheme]

If it was easy to score a goal a game in Portugal every cnut would be doing it.

There are very few guarantees in football but this guy seems to have really stepped up over the last year or two.

 

[GMoore23]

Nah. Antony scored 18 goals in 57 apperances at Ajax. Pretty far from Gyokeres numbers.

I can't believe the money we paid for him given those stats playing for the best team in a weaker league. A world class wide forward would absolutely be tearing it up at Ajax.

 

[Grand Vizier]

Against Championship/League one level teams, while playing for a Champions league level team, which (hopefully) had a really special manager with a great tactical set up.

Everyone knows the numbers, but it’s pointless without context. Gyokeres’ ability to score lots of goals in the Premier League is as just as hypothetical.

So what do we do? Not sign any striker unless they have scored goals in the Premier League?

 

[Berbaclass]

Against Championship/League one level teams, while playing for a Champions league level team, which (hopefully) had a really special manager with a great tactical set up.

Everyone knows the numbers, but it’s pointless without context. Gyokeres’ ability to score lots of goals in the Premier League is as just as hypothetical.

Use your eyes and look at how he scores the goals and what his game is all about. His play style would translate well into the PL.

 

[Lentwood]

1) Trying to find the next Mbappé does not entail only signing young players with potential and never experienced, older players in their prime. If we did that, we would never compete.

2) He is delivering in the CL and just scored a hattrick against City. Primeira Liga is a top league and players from that league generally transfer well to PL.

3) This applies to every player. Every transfer is a risk, even great players. If he "flops", he will still be one of the best strikers in the PL as he is levels above most PL strikers.

4) Tell that to Drogba, Dzeko, Lewandowski, Vardy etc. Late bloomers like Gyokeres often continue developing as they age. Assuming he doesn't, his current level is still very high and for £65m, it really isn't anything to think about.

1) SJR said "I would rather sign the next Mbappe rather than spend a fortune buying success". This strongly suggests to me that we won't be spending £65m on 27 year old Gyokeres. So far under INEOS we've signed Yoro (18), De Ligt (24), Ugarte (23), Zirkee (23) and Mazraoui, who was 26 at the time of signing and only cost £15m.

I would go as far as to say the club won't ever spend £50m+ on a player older than 25, at least not unless fees explode exponentially again (new TV deal etc...) under INEOS stewardship.

2) I stated a fact. Gyokeres has not scored goals in one of the "big five" leagues. Therefore, he's a risk at 27.

3) How can you say he's "levels above" most Premier League strikers? Seems a bold outlandish statement to me. All transfers are risks, that's why you take calculated risks. The risk factor goes up as the fee increases and a players' age increases. Gyokeres comes at a high price and will be 27, making his risk factor huge.

4) Lewandowski went to Dortmund at 22/23. Drogba joined Chelsea at 25. Dzeko was banging them in for Wolfsburg when he was 21/22 and even Vardy was about 25 the year Leicester won the title. So you've named me four players across a span of 25 years who were "late bloomers", and all were at least two years younger than Gyokeres when they started scoring in a "top five" league.

 

[Lentwood]

There have been many posts in his other thread and some in this which imply that because he was at Coventry in his mid 20s, and is a late developer, that he's not all that. Despite there being many examples of footballers who develop in their late 20s, especially strikers in recent years.

I think some people, myself included, are saying he MIGHT be fantastic but he's 27 in June.

I think most people on either side of the debate agree that if you're going to sign a striker for £65m at 27, they need to be a banker.

I don't see how anybody can say Gyokeres is a banker. What level are we saying he's at...peak Rooney, Shearer, Henry, R9, Ronaldo, Zlatan? Or below that....Kane, Drogba, David Villa, Torres? Or below that...Watkins, Toney, Solanke etc...?

 

[OmgTheyKilkenny]

I think the fact he previously was signed by Brighton is a good indication that he showed talent from a young age too as they're usually quite good at finding rough diamonds. However the fact they sold him to Coventry is equally important too as they came to the conclusion he wasn't good enough for them long term.

I've watched him a few times in the championship and admired him for a while. Buy I'm apprehensive about the price tags being touted here and I don't think he's guaranteed to be the world beater some suggest in this thread. The last thing we need is am expensive dud.

For instance just looking at top scorers in Portugal in recent years Bas Dost has scored 76 in 84 with more than a goal a game in 16/17 but then went to Frankfurt and failed to replicate the form.
Jonas is another one who scored 110 in 132 for Benfica yet at Valencia he was scoring a goal 1 every 3 games.

I'd still be happy for us to potentially sign him but equally I think we need to be cautious of the price tag being touted too.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

I can't believe the money we paid for him given those stats playing for the best team in a weaker league. A world class wide forward would absolutely be tearing it up at Ajax.

Was infuriating at the time too especially when I thought Kudus was clearly the bigger talent there and he ended up costing half the price.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

I think some people, myself included, are saying he MIGHT be fantastic but he's 27 in June.

I think most people on either side of the debate agree that if you're going to sign a striker for £65m at 27, they need to be a banker.

I don't see how anybody can say Gyokeres is a banker. What level are we saying he's at...peak Rooney, Shearer, Henry, R9, Ronaldo, Zlatan? Or below that....Kane, Drogba, David Villa, Torres? Or below that...Watkins, Toney, Solanke etc...?

I mean he’s just as much of a banker as any striker you’ll buy at that price which is everyone’s point

 

[Grand Vizier]

1) SJR said "I would rather sign the next Mbappe rather than spend a fortune buying success". This strongly suggests to me that we won't be spending £65m on 27 year old Gyokeres. So far under INEOS we've signed Yoro (18), De Ligt (24), Ugarte (23), Zirkee (23) and Mazraoui, who was 26 at the time of signing and only cost £15m.

I would go as far as to say the club won't ever spend £50m+ on a player older than 25, at least not unless fees explode exponentially again (new TV deal etc...) under INEOS stewardship.

2) I stated a fact. Gyokeres has not scored goals in one of the "big five" leagues. Therefore, he's a risk at 27.

3) How can you say he's "levels above" most Premier League strikers? Seems a bold outlandish statement to me. All transfers are risks, that's why you take calculated risks. The risk factor goes up as the fee increases and a players' age increases. Gyokeres comes at a high price and will be 27, making his risk factor huge.

4) Lewandowski went to Dortmund at 22/23. Drogba joined Chelsea at 25. Dzeko was banging them in for Wolfsburg when he was 21/22 and even Vardy was about 25 the year Leicester won the title. So you've named me four players across a span of 25 years who were "late bloomers", and all were at least two years younger than Gyokeres when they started scoring in a "top five" league.

1) Obviously every owner and manager would rather buy a cheap, young, potentially generational talent than a £60m player in his mid-twenties. But these players don't grow on trees. They are extremely rare, and when they do, they are bought for big money (see Vinicius, Rodrygo, Joao Neves, Joao Felix etc). Gone are the days where you had all the time in the world to think about signing young players. You have top clubs drooling at 17 year olds and even lesser clubs like Brighton, Salzburg and Leipzig who offer an excellent development path for these players. The idea that we should wait to sign the next Mbappé as if it is a realistic opportunity coming anytime soon is simply ridiculous.

2) He has scored in the Champions League and a hattrick against City. You think he'd have issues scoring against Southampton or Ipswich?

3) He is levels above because he is better than most of them. I'm not sure what your argument is here, unless you think Liam Delap or Evanilson are better. And why is his risk factor huge? He is scoring for fun internationally, in the league and in the Champions League while also offering excellent hold-up play and link-up ability. We'd be incredibly stupid not to buy him provided Højlund doesn't improve significantly and if he is available for £65m.

4) When they went to their respective clubs was not my point. You claimed players don't improve after 26 (or 27?), and I followed up by showing you several examples of strikers who did. Whether they scored in a top league when they were younger is completely irrelevant. Zirkzee has also scored in the Premier League, it does not mean he is better or has higher potential. Players don't follow a linear development, and just because Gyokeres played for Coventry a short time ago does not mean he isn't going to continue developing. He adapted brilliantly under Amorim and improved significantly, so why do you think it is such a massive risk to sign him? You mentioned a calculated risk. I think signing one of the most sought after strikers in the world who has scored the most goals this season out of any striker would be the definition of that.