Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Keifer MacDonald

Everton 'target' Viktor Gyokeres a 'priority' transfer for Portuguese giants

Everton will reportedly face competition from Portuguese giants Sporting CP for Coventry City talisman Viktor Gyokeres.

The 25-year-old scored 21 goals in England's second tier last season as the Sky Blues were beaten in the Championship play-off final on penalties by Luton Town.

As a result of missing out on promotion to the Premier League, it is expected the Sweden international will leave the Ricoh Arena this summer.

Everton, alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers and other Premier League clubs, have been touted with a move for Gyokeres as Sean Dyche looks to ease the attacking burden on the shoulders of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

READ MORE: Everton youngster Tom Cannon faces dilemma as international boss reveals 'approach'

READ MORE: Jordan Pickford transfer truth is clear as Sean Dyche overcomes Everton 'red flags'

However, according to Mercato journalist Santi Aiuna, Sporting want to "close a deal as soon as possible" and have made Gyokeres a "priority" as they prepare to improve on last season's fourth-placed finish in the Primera Liga.

Speaking after last month's agonising defeat at Wembley, Coventry boss Mark Robins admitted now was not the time to discuss the future of Gyokeres or midfielder Gustavo Hamer.

"I don't think that's really a question for now," said the former Manchester United forward. "I think we've got to sit and think about this and let it sink in and reflect on it. But again, you use this as fuel to come back stronger, I think.

"If you can't do that, then you're in the wrong sport, you're in the wrong game. We have to try and use that to galvanise us to go again."

Everton secured Premier League survival on the final day of the season thanks to a slender 1-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth at Goodison Park. For that particular match, as had been the case for most of the campaign, Dyche was forced to plot a route to victory without Calvert-Lewin after he had suffered a hamstring injury against Wolverhampton Wanderers the week before.

Since enjoying the most prolific return of his Goodison Park career in 2020/21, Calvert-Lewin has scored just seven goals in 34 Premier League games in two injury-hit seasons since.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.