Everton are set to miss out on Viktor Gyokeres to Sporting Lisbon.
That’s according to Record, who have claimed the Coventry City striker ‘already has his bags packed’ as Sporting Lisbon close in on a deal to bring him to Portugal.
With only a year left on his contract, Gyokeres had attracted attention from a number of Premier League clubs including Everton.
Reports claimed earlier this week that the Toffees had had a bid turned down for the forward and it now looks like he will be travelling across Europe to ply his trade in the Primeira Liga.
After Sporting Lisbon initially seeing a £16.4 million bid rejected, they have reportedly progressed with their £17.2m offer that includes a sell-on clause for Coventry.
Portuguese journalist Bruno Andrade tweeted: “Sporting advanced to close the contract for 20 M € + 35% of future sale. Recent change of managers (Nordic Sky to HCM Sports) of the Swedish striker made the process accelerate this week. Lions are very confident in hiring.”
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Viktor Gyokeres will move to the Premier League if he impresses at Sporting Lisbon
Viktor Gyokeres was fully expected to earn himself a move to the Premier League, with many believing he was a whole level above the Championship.
Speaking after Coventry’s meeting with Sunderland earlier this year, the Black Cats boss, Tony Mowbray, said:
“I don’t want to say he should test himself in the Premier League but who is like him in the Premier League at the moment?
“Who is too fast, too strong and too big, you would suggest Haaland is like that and Gyokeres in this league looks a yard faster and stronger than the players he plays against in the Championship.
While Everton will be disappointed they weren’t able to land the highly rated striker, they could still see him in the Premier League in the next few years.
Sporting Lisbon could prove to be a very sensible stepping stone for Gyokeres, with many huge talents arriving in England from Portugal’s biggest clubs.
The 25-year-old will get to play Europa League football and will still have plenty of time to catch the eye of some of the Premier League’s elite clubs and potentially make the move in another year or two.
If Everton are no longer in such a financial mess then they could well go back in for Gyokeres, though it is hard to predict what will occur for both parties in the near future.