Newcastle United ‘missed out’ on signing 22 goal striker in summer but could get ‘fresh chance’ next year

The latest international break is over and domestic football is back across the country with Premier League action returning when Liverpool host Everton in the Merseyside derby in Saturday’s early kick off.

Newcastle United will host Crystal Palace at St James’ Park as Eddie Howe’s team look to make it eight games unbeaten in a row in all competitions. Meanwhile, there is still plenty of transfer news circling the rumour mill with the January window still a bit away but fast approaching.

One of the most sought after forward’s in English football last summer was Coventry City striker Viktor Gyökeres. The Sweden international scored 40 goals across two seasons for the EFL Championship club including 22 in the 2022/23 campaign and was linked with several big clubs both in the Premier League and across Europe.

He eventually signed for Sporting CP for €20 million plus add-ons but the latest reports coming out of Portugal suggest he may only be with the Lisbon based club for one season. Sport Witness, via Portuguese publication Record, report that the 25-year old’s impressive start where he has scored eight goals in nine games has seen his market value rise considerably with Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla credited with an interest.

The same report suggests that Newcastle United will get the chance to make a move for the former Brighton & Hove Albion man in the summer. It comes after claims that the Magpies held an interest in the striker last summer but missed out on a deal to bring him to the North East.

Newcastle’s UEFA Champions League group stage opponents, AC Milan, are another side apparently keen on a move for Gyökeres. However, despite reports that he could indeed leave Sporting next year, he did sign a five yeat contract when he moved to the Portuguese side so they will be in a strong position to make a significant profit on the fee they paid.