Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP reacts
Viktor Gyokeres has responded after Troy Deeney warded Manchester United off recruiting the Sporting CP star
In-demand Viktor Gyokeres has issued a stern message after Manchester United and Arsenal were urged against moving for his signature.
United boss Ruben Amorim is reportedly eyeing a reunion with his former Sporting CP charge, who has scored 69 goals in 74 games since moving to Portugal last year. Not that it's been enough to convince Troy Deeney, who doesn't believe the forward is worth the £75million price-tag attached to his name.
The 36-year-old sent heads spinning over the weekend when he suggested both Arsenal and United should look to avoid signing the player. During a discussion on talkSPORT, the former Watford striker said he doesn't think Gyokeres is a "natural finisher," suggesting he would struggle to carry his scoring form into the Premier League.
"I genuinely think he's a good footballer, he works really hard, all of that," said Deeney, who scored 47 times in 165 Premier League appearances. "But I don't think he's a natural finisher."
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And now Gyokeres, 26, has had his say in response to those comments, describing the obsession with goals he developed as a youngster. The ex-Brighton and Coventry City frontman has averaged 27 goals per season over the last four campaigns (109 in total) to force the attention of Europe's top clubs.
Portuguese daily O Jogo quoted the Swede saying: "Yes, it seems like it’s always been like that since I started playing as a kid. I’ve always loved the feeling of scoring goals and it’s almost become an addiction. You want to feel that feeling again and again every time you step on the pitch and that’s something I’ve always had."
The early signs of Gyokeres' ruthless streak in front of goal emerged at Coventry, where he scored 40 times across his two full seasons with the Sky Blues. However, his game stepped up several notches while working with Amorim in Lisbon, where he was in the running to lift the European Golden Shoe last term.
He has only grown more prolific this season after bagging 26 goals in his first 24 outings of the season. It's widely held that Arsenal are in need of a natural finisher after opting not to sign a forward in the summer, while United could do with some experience up front.
Rasmus Hojlund has scored 23 times in his first 61 appearances for the Red Devils and recently bagged back-to-back match-winning braces in the Europa League. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford looks destined to open a slot in attack after admitting he's "ready for a new challenge" away from Old Trafford.
His departure would help raise funds to sign Gyokeres and free up some valuable space on United's wage bill. Gyokeres could be just the kind of investment needed to replace him in attack, and he may come to thrive once more playing as part of Amorim's blueprint.
"I think it’s like the national team, which also fits my style of play very well," he told O Jogo. "Then, it’s always a question of hunger for goals. Even when you’ve already scored a few, you want to keep going, you’re not satisfied or think that’s enough. Always value the next game and forget what’s already happened."