Anthony Onifade

Thu 11 May 2023 9:30, UK

Premier League rivals Wolves are preparing a bid for Viktor Gyokeres this summer and Everton may well regret seeing an exciting target slip through their fingers.

The Coventry City hotshot has enjoyed a sensational 2022/23 campaign, scoring 21 goals in the Championship this season and attracting interest from a host of Premier League clubs including the Toffees, who scouted him back in March.

Football League World exclusively reported on 27 January that Everton manager Sean Dyche admired the talented Swedish international and wanted to bring him to Goodison Park during the winter window, but a move was blocked by the Sky Blues.

Everton have desperately needed a goalscoring striker all season, having sold Richarlison to Tottenham for £60m last summer and boasted the joint-worst record in the division for goals scored before their 5-1 win over Brighton (8 May) on Monday took them two goals past Wolves on 32 goals scored this campaign.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s struggles for fitness for much of the campaign and Neal Maupay’s failure to set Goodison Park alight since his move from Brighton, the Blues will be prioritising a move for a quality number nine this summer.

And according to a latest report from Sky Sports News [10 May], Everton face losing one of their key striker targets to their main Premier League rivals this summer.

“Wolves are interested in signing Coventry striker Viktor Gyokeres,” said Sky Sports News presenter Bela Shah, as relayed by Football Daily.

“One source has told Sky Sports News they are the leading club in the Premier League for his signature this summer. There are no ongoing negotiations to sign the player yet, however.

“We know that Crystal Palace and West Ham are also thought to be admirers of Gyokeres.”

Providing the Toffees secure their Premier League status for next season, Sean Dyche is going to need to add a new striker to the ranks in the summer with Maupay’s career all but done at Goodison and doubts around the long-term qualities of Ellis Simms and Calvert-Lewin.

Gyokeres has been mightily impressive this season with Coventry and has been a big reason for their success in the division, securing their playoff spot, with so many goals and a clear belief that he is ready to step up to the next level.

The Swedish international registered a sensational 21 goals and 10 assists in the Championship, becoming one of the country’s hottest goalscoring commodities how cruel will it be for Everton to see one of their key targets secure a move to a Premier League rival?

Gyokeres will enter the final 12 months in his contract after the end of the season, and Coventry could be willing to cash in.

However, many fans will attest to the Swede’s lack of top-flight experience and that the Blues should be targeting top-level strikers to address their goalscoring problems but Dyche won’t be losing sleep Gyokere’s lack of experience one bit, having worked wonders with Championship-level strikers before.

The 24-year-old already possesses the capabilities and prowess needed to become a top-level Premier League striker and considering the pressure Everton will be under to improve next season, should they remain in the top flight, taking a risk on Gyokeres could yet prove to be a masterstroke.

Everton must not allow Wolves to steal a march on such a terrific and gifted goalscorer.