Football League World
·25 October 2024
Football League World
·25 October 2024
After selling Viktor Gyokores to Sporting Lisban a little over a year ago, interest from Manchester City could land Coventry a windfall
When Coventry City signed Viktor Gyokeres from Brighton, few would've believed he'd go on to become one of the hottest properties in European football. But that's proved to be the case for the Swedish striker who, after setting the world alight in Portugal, is now being courted by one of the best clubs in Europe - Manchester City.
That's according to Sky Sports in Switzerland, who claim that Gyokeres will be a direct replacement for Erling Haaland, who has so far not renewed his Manchester City contract and is alleged to be attracting interest from Real Madrid.
The report claims that Gyokeres won't remain in Lisbon for much longer and that the English champions of the last four seasons have already been in touch with the Swede's entourage.
That'll be music to the ears of Coventry fans, who reportedly have a 15% sell on clause on Gyokeres, which, amidst talk of a 100 million euro deal, could net the Sky Blues a tidy windfall.
Gyokeres departing Sporting would provide some much-needed funds for Mark Robins in the transfer market, as their budget has notoriously been tight down the years, with the money from the initial sale of the Swede funding most of their modern-day big money signings.
The money from that sale helped fund Coventry's club-record £7.7m move for Haji Wright last summer, but with yet another poor start to the Championship season, money hasn't particularly brought the Sky Blues success.
In the season's infancy is anything to go off, they're looking likelier to be in a relegation battle than a promotion push, so Robins will probably be wishing City will bring their move forward to this January to give his side a fighting chance to climb the table.
WIth no Premier League money behind them in recent history - something most of the other clubs they're competing against in the league have had - Coventry need something to help bridge that gap, and their way of doing so has been through selling players.
The sale of Gustavo Hamer also helped raise some much-needed funds to improve the squad and fund the next wave of moves for the club's recruitment model to work.
Since departing for Portugal, Gyokeres has lit up Europe, averaging almost a goal a game in the famous Green and White, netting 56 times across 63 appearances.
He's been even more prolific this season, netting 11 times in eight games in the Portuguese top-flight.
It's not just Manchester City who are interested in the Sporting striker, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all reportedly also eyeing up a move for the striker.
Where he moves remains to be seen, and it's likely that any move will only materialise in the summer, but for Coventry, they won't mind where he moves.
The 15% sell on clause could prove to be a masterstroke, and amid talk of a nine-figure sale, the Sky Blues look likely to net a circa £10m windfall.