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Rio Ferdinand has revealed what it would take for Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres to reach the ‘top bracket’ of forwards.
The Swede, who has scored 23 goals in 18 games for Sporting this season, has become one of Europe’s most sought after stars following his displays in Portugal.
Ruben Amorim spent four years at Sporting Lisbon in Portugal and helped develop Gyokeres into one of the best strikers in the world during that time before departing for United.
There have been rumours of a potential reunion between the two at Old Trafford and former Red Devils defender Ferdinand has insisted that it should happen.
Speaking ahead of Sporting’s clash with Arsenal on TNT Sports, Ferdinand said: ‘I wouldn’t put him in the top bracket yet because he hasn’t done it in a top league.
‘With all due respect, the Portuguese league is a very good league but it’s not a top league.
Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres has become one of Europe’s most prolific forwards
There are rumours that Ruben Amorim will want to reunite with the Swede at Man United
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed why he thinks Gyokeres should move
‘If he signs for a team in the Premier League, he’ll be having to prove who he is, reshaping himself and presenting himself to everybody under that spotlight and going: this is who I am.
‘If he wants to win, he goes to Manchester United… I’m joking! The key point is he knows the manager.
‘For a transition into another league, to go with somebody that knows his game perfectly and can get the best out of you – and he’s proved he can do that somewhere else – and you’re going to go somewhere where he’s rebuilding and you’re part of that process with him, he’ll be licking his lips at something like that.
Gyokeres was outstanding for Amorim in a little more than a season together at Sporting and a move to one of Europe’s top-five leagues seems inevitable, probably next summer rather than in January.
He has 16 goals in just 11 Primeira Liga games this term, five in four in the Champions League, a few more in the Portuguese cups and nine in six (plus four assists) in the Nations League for Sweden, where he has a potentially fearsome partnership with Alexander Isak.
His overall record for Sporting is 67 in 69 matches, plus 19 assists. Gyokeres’ goal celebration, where he covers half of his face with his hands to resemble a mask, has had fans everywhere copying him and debating its origin.
Speaking further on Gyokeres’ attributes, Ferdinand said: ‘He’s got pace and pace scares defenders. He’s a willing runner and he shows that really well.
‘His willingness to run into these (wide) areas, they’re hard yards. That’s where he does his dirty work – shoulder to shoulder, he’s aggressive. He understands how to use his body, bounces the defender…. knows where the goal is.
Amorim helped develop Gyokeres into a star forward after joining from Coventry
‘Absolute understanding of space, asking defenders if you want to come out there. He doesn’t stand still, identifies where the danger may be, heads out there. He has the quality. You don’t score goals anywhere in the world without having quality’.
Earlier this month the player himself, however, halted speculation, insisting there have not yet been any talks to get a deal done.
‘He probably has some strikers there already, so we’ll see,’ the forward told Fotboll Skanalen. ‘No, he hasn’t [asked me to join him]. It’s fun but nothing I attach any importance to because it’s talk and nothing concrete.’
Via Fabrizio Romano, he added: ‘I want to finish this season at Sporting. I love it here. We will see [about a new club] when the time comes. I want to play, that’s crucial, and there will be also other factors.’