Truth revealed about Leeds United's Viktor Gyokeres transfer interest as statement made on cost

The future of Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres is sure to be one of the big talking points this January, and if no deal is agreed, then once again the summer could be taken up with talk about one of Europe's in-form strikers. The Sweden international can't stop scoring this season and has taken his record with Sporting to beyond a goal a game average since arriving in the summer of 2023.

Manchester United are linked with leading the chase for the striker, in what is an obvious link given his now ex-Sporting boss Ruben Amorim has taken over at Old Trafford. It was under Amorim that Gyokeres' career reached a new level, but he was certainly an eye-catching prospect when playing for Coventry City - so much so Leeds United were interested.

Before Gyokeres' move to Sporting, he had been linked with a number of clubs including Leeds, who in January's transfer window of 2023 were looking to strengthen their attacking ranks. In the end it was Georginio Rutter who was signed for a fee of £36m, significantly more than Gyokeres would have cost.

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Speaking to the Liga Portugal Business School, as reported by the Record, former Leeds director of football Victor Orta has revealed he regarded a fee of just under £12m too much to pay for Gyokeres, and so the Whites never pursued a deal. He said; "When I was at Leeds United I didn’t want to give €14m for him. Cases like that of Gyokeres are the good surprises that football gives us, those things that we cannot measure."

At the time Gyokeres had scored 43 goals and 17 assists in 116 appearances, earning a good reputation, but not at the level it is now.

Gyokeres has been in sensational form for Sporting since his arrival from Championship side Coventry. The 26-year-old has scored 66 goals in just 68 games in all competitions for the Portuguese giants.

He has four years left to run on his contract. Reports have claimed that his current side Sporting could be willing to sell for £70m - a considerably lower amount than the £85.3m release clause written into his contract.