The transfer window is not an exact science. This is why it is often difficult to target the right profiles. Sometimes certain choices can leave you with big regrets. As for Olympique Lyonnais, we may have missed a potential future Ballon d'Or.
Two years ago, Viktor Gyökeres was offered to OL while he was playing for Coventry City. However, Bruno Cheyrou, then head of recruitment for OL, decided not to follow through, according to Footmercato.
In July 2023, Gyökeres finally signed with Sporting Clube de Portugal (Sporting CP) for a fee of €24 million. Since his arrival, the Swede has exploded, scoring 67 goals in 71 matches in all competitions, and his current value is estimated at 100 million euros, the amount of his release clause.
Under the guidance of Ruben Amorim, Gyökeres quickly became a centerpiece of Sporting's attack. And this time it wasn't just a one shot, since the Swedish striker confirmed this season, with 24 goals in 21 games. XXL performances which attracted the attention of several major European clubs, including Manchester United.
Discussions between Manchester United and Sporting CP are clearly already well advanced for Gyökeres, and the Red Devils hope to be able to close the deal quickly to pull the rug out from under the competition. Gyökeres could thus join his former coach at Old Trafford.
On the side of Olympique Lyonnais, we must probably regret not having lined up the 24 million euros that Sporting CP did not hesitate to put in for Viktor Gyökeres. A failure which is reminiscent of that concerning Cristiano Ronaldo. As a reminder, Jean-Michel Aulas's OL had, in 2002, rejected an exchange between CR7 and Tony Vairelles.
Of course, it is necessary to qualify by the fact that Ronaldo and Gyökeres would perhaps not have had the same success at Olympique Lyonnais. But still…
