Leeds United’s failure to secure Viktor Gyokeres less than two years ago has been revealed by former sporting director Victor Orta, who admitted that the club passed on the chance to sign the now highly-coveted Swedish striker for a modest €14m (£11.7m, $14.8m).
As a result, the striker, once available at a bargain price, is now firmly on Manchester United’s radar, with reports suggesting the Premier League giants are preparing an €80m (£67m, $84.6m) offer to bring him to Old Trafford. This marks the latest chapter in a saga that has seen Gyokeres’ stock rise dramatically since his time in England.
Orta, who spent six years at Leeds United and oversaw various transfer dealings under chairman Andrea Radrizzani, has faced both praise and criticism during his tenure. While the club did enjoy some successes, such as the signing of Raphinha for £17m and Crysencio Summerville for just £1.3m, Orta’s legacy is tainted by Leeds’ eventual relegation from the Premier League. In a recent revelation, Orta admitted that he had the chance to sign Gyokeres, who was then playing for Coventry City, but passed up on it due to the perceived high asking price.
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“When I was at Leeds United, I didn’t want to give €14m for him,” Orta stated in an interview with Portuguese outlet Record. “Cases like that of Gyokeres are the good surprises that football gives us, those things that we cannot measure.” This admission sheds light on one of the key moments in Leeds’ recent history, as the club found itself embroiled in a relegation battle during the 2022-2023 season, with Orta unable to secure the striker’s services despite the affordable price tag.
At the time, Gyokeres was lighting up the Championship with Coventry, showcasing his potential as one of the division’s most promising forwards. After Leeds declined to act, Gyokeres remained in the second tier and continued to impress, eventually securing a €20m (£16.8m) transfer to Sporting CP in the summer of 2023. Since joining the Primeira Liga giants, Gyokeres has gone from strength to strength, becoming one of Europe’s hottest properties, and his value has skyrocketed in the process.
Now at Sporting, the 25-year-old striker has become a key player, netting an impressive 66 goals in just 68 appearances for the Portuguese club. As a result, Gyokeres has attracted interest from some of Europe’s elite, with Manchester United reportedly leading the race for his signature. Under new manager Ruben Amorim, who is keen to bolster his attacking options, the Swedish international could be seen as a perfect fit to complement United’s attacking line.
The transfer saga surrounding Gyokeres has taken a new twist, with reports suggesting that Manchester United is preparing a substantial €80m (£67m) bid for the striker in the summer of 2025, a figure that falls just short of his €100m (£83.5m, $105.5m) release clause. This development comes as United looks to strengthen their squad under Amorim, who has long been a fan of Gyokeres from their time together in Portugal.
Gyokeres, for his part, has attempted to downplay the speculation surrounding a potential move to Manchester United. “He [Amorim] probably has some strikers there already, so we’ll see,” Gyokeres said in an interview with Fotbollskanalen. “It’s not something I think about. Of course, you want to play out the season at Sporting and I enjoy myself there, so there is no stress for me to make a move in the future. We’ll see when the time comes.”
Despite his calm demeanor regarding the transfer rumors, Gyokeres has acknowledged the pivotal role Amorim has played in his development. “It is very sad that he is leaving, but of course, we understand his decision,” the striker added. “He has obviously meant a lot considering that he gave me that chance and that he made me develop so much. Now we look forward to working with the new coach.”
Sporting’s president, Frederico Varandas, has also weighed in on the situation, noting that while the club would not stand in Gyokeres’ way should a club meet his release clause, a January transfer is highly unlikely. “I can’t promise anything. If a club arrives and pays the release clause, if he [Gyokeres] wants to go, he will go,” Varandas stated, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano. “But I do not think this will happen in January.”
Gyokeres himself has confirmed that Amorim has not yet reached out to him regarding a move to Manchester United, with the striker dismissing the transfer rumors as mere talk. “No. It’s [transfer rumors] fun but not something I attach any importance to because it’s talk and nothing concrete,” Gyokeres clarified.
As the transfer window approaches, the interest in Gyokeres continues to grow, with Leeds United’s failure to secure the striker two years ago now looking like a missed opportunity. Had they acted decisively, Leeds could have secured one of the most exciting young forwards in Europe for a fraction of what he is now worth. Instead, the Whites’ loss has very much been Sporting CP’s gain, with the Portuguese club potentially set to make a massive profit on their €20m investment when Gyokeres eventually departs.
For Leeds, the missed opportunity serves as a reminder of the importance of decisive action in the transfer market. While the club now faces the challenge of rebuilding after relegation, they are reportedly targeting new signings, including Gent left-back Archie Brown. However, with other clubs higher up the pecking order for Brown’s signature, Leeds could face stiff competition for his services.
Meanwhile, speculation also continues regarding the potential return of Archie Gray to Elland Road in the January window, though no concrete moves have been made as of yet. As the January transfer window looms, Leeds will have to act quickly if they hope to secure the right reinforcements to aid in their promotion push.
Ultimately, the Gyokeres saga is a tale of what could have been for Leeds United. While the striker’s future is still uncertain, the rise of Viktor Gyokeres serves as a reminder of the unpredictability and high stakes of the football transfer market. As Manchester United prepares to make their move, Leeds fans will no doubt reflect on their club’s missed opportunity with a sense of regret.
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