Viktor Gyokeres 'far from the level of Glenn Murray' before shock rise to Sporting CP success as Man Utd transfer speculation heats up

Gyokeres' rapid rise has put him on a pedestal as one of the most in-demand strikers in Europe in 2025 but a former team-mate has given his account of the Swedish goalscorer during their time at Brighton together. Gaetan Bong recalls watching Gyokeres' train on the south coast and revealed he was not even near the level of the main striker at the time Murray.

Speaking toRMC Sport, former full-back Bong said: "Everyone who knew him in his early days in England will tell you the same thing. He was a decent and combative striker, but without disrespect, he had quite a few faults. There was nothing to say that he was going to explode one day.

"I remember seeing this guy come into the locker room who didn’t look like much. It was surprising to see him there because Brighton were used to recruiting people who were fast and not bothered with the ball for their position, already had an imposing physique, but how can I put it. Technically and in his finishing, it was… mediocre, for example, he was far from the level of Glenn Murray, who was our starting number nine."

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim can take a lot of credit for Gyokeres' global reputation. The former Sporting boss developed the striker during his time in Portugal and remains keen to bring him to Old Trafford and rekindle their past relationship.

It is unclear whether the Red Devils will move for the 26-year-old this month but they are in desperate need of a boost. United sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table and have struggled to score goals, with Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund not living up to expectation as it stands.