Viktor Gyokeres may be the leading goalscorer in 2024 – but Arsenal and Manchester United should stay clear of him. That’s the opinion of ex-Watford striker Troy Deeney, who believes the Sweden marksman would not win either of the two teams the Premier League. Sporting striker Gyokeres has been linked with a move away in 2025Getty Gyokeres has established himself as one of Europe’s most lethal forwards since swapping Coventry for Sporting Lisbon in 2023. His first season in Portugal saw him banging in 43 goals in all competitions – firing Sporting to their first league title in three years. And he has continued his fine form into this campaign, where he has chipped in with 25 goals in all competitions. He has also found the back of the net ten times for Sweden in 2024, bringing his total tally 60. That is 12 more than closest rival Erling Haaland, who has scored 48 goals for Manchester City and Norway. Having established himself as a goal machine, Gyokeres has been heavily tipped to depart the Estadio Jose Alvalade in 2025. The 26-year-old boasts a release clause of £85million in his contract, though it is believed that Sporting could allow him to depart for around £60m. It’s reported that United are just one interested party, with a move to Old Trafford to reunite the forward with former boss Ruben Amorim. Meanwhile Arsenal are known to be admirers of the ex-Brighton man as Mikel Arteta looks to bring in competition for Kai Havertz. But both the Red Devils and the Gunners have been warned by Deeney that Gyokeres is not the right player for them. No player in 2024 has scored more goals than Gyokeres Despite being lethal in front of goal, Deeney doesn’t believe Gyokeres is a ‘natural finisher’talkSPORT Speaking to talkSPORT.com, Deeney was asked who out of Arsenal and United would be a better fit for the player. To which he acknowledged that what he was about to say may seem controversial to some. He said: “You know when you say something the clip is going to come back in six months. “I genuinely think he’s a good footballer, he works really hard, all of that. “But I don’t think he’s a natural finisher. “And again, everyone is going to pull up his goal record, I get that. Sweden international Gyokeres has an £80m release clause in his contractGetty “But I don’t think he takes either of those two to winning the Premier League. “That’s just my opinion, and if he did, they’d have already bought him.” And Deeney believes that Gyokeres’ output would be nothing like it is in Portugal should he link up with a top-flight team. The former Birmingham striker likened the player to Darwin Nunez, who scored 34 goals in his final year at Benfica before joining Liverpool in 2022. In what is his third season in the Premier League, Nunez is yet to score more than 11 league goals. Discussing the quality in Portugal, he remarked: “It’s not the same league (as the English top-flight). Gyokeres has been linked with a switch to the GunnersGetty “And we’ll find that out when Gyokeres comes over.” Arsenal fans – and Arteta – got a first-hand look at Gyokeres last month in the club’s Champions League meeting at Sporting. Gyokeres hit the post late in the encounter, but was powerless to stop his side from losing 5-1. Though he did show his class against Manchester City in early November – banging in a hat-trick in a famous 4-1 victory. If Gyokeres continues his hot streak, it’s surely only a matter of time before the player tests himself in the Premier League. And only then can we see whether Deeney is having the last laugh, or is forced to eat humble pie.

Antonee Robinson has missed just three Premier League matches across the past three seasons. After a starring role in keeping Arsenal sensation Bukayo Saka quiet last weekend, he has cemented his status as one of the top full-backs in England. Robinson kept Arsenal’s attacking threat quiet as Fulham earned a draw It was a sentiment shared by Fulham manager Marco Silva following his side’s impressive 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Craven Cottage. “He’s been great for us,” Silva said. “He’s one of the best left-backs in this league. “It’s not just the way he is able to stop players, but the way he is able to help ourselves. “In open play, last season he was the full-back in this league with (the) most assists and this season (he) is probably one of the full-backs with the most assists. “He’s a top player and a great professional. He’s a proper athlete and is improving in some defensive positions we want him to improve. “He’s improving season by season, and week by week you can see he is improving, and we are really proud to have him with us.” After 15 rounds, Robinson leads all defenders in the Premier League with four assists this season after finishing fourth in the assist charts last time around. But against Arsenal, it was Robinson’s defensive duties that truly marked the progress he’s made over the course of his career in England – particularly over the past 12 months. Facing one of the Premier League’s elite wingers in Saka, Robinson didn’t just add to Fulham’s impressive attacking display but played a major role in holding the England international to one of his quieter games of the season. Saka came into proceedings with five combined goals and assists in his previous three games but Robinson’s match-high six tackles and close attention to the winger kept him suitably at bay as Fulham continued a strong start to the season with a valuable point. View Tweet: https://t.co/ZhUaxwlLYs One moment in particular highlighted Robinson’s standout performance and his increased defensive capabilities as he presented a nightmarish proposition for Saka. With seven minutes left in the first half, Saka received the ball on Arsenal’s right flank and immediately found Robinson at his back. Saka twisted and turned but found no way past the American full-back who held him up, allowed his team to retreat, and eventually poked the ball out for a throw-in. It was a moment that encompassed the diligent and determined performance that has become commonplace for Robinson and led to him taking over as Fulham captain in Tom Cairney’s absence. It was also a moment that encompassed what Jonathan Wilson wrote about Robinson in the Guardian following the draw. “Since Fulham’s return to the Premier League in 2022, the Milton Keynes-born USA international has been one of the most consistent left-backs in the division and yet is a weirdly undiscussed figure,” he explained. View Tweet: https://t.co/ZmB7mFwQqf “He played a vital role in restricting Arsenal’s threat. Where others have a tendency to stand off Bukayo Saka, Robinson engaged him aggressively and had the better of their duel.” Meanwhile, Miguel Delaney of the Independent even felt that Robinson’s performance was the blueprint and standard-bearer for anyone coming up against Saka, writing: “Antonee Robinson has handled Saka about as well as anyone in world football – brilliant individual performance.” As well as leading all defenders in assists this season, Robinson has also amassed the most combined tackles and interceptions to underline his growth as a complete full-back. View Tweet: https://t.co/530ddLb5j4 It doesn’t get any easier. After Saka, enter Mohamed Salah. On Saturday, Fulham travel to Anfield to face arguably the league’s most potent threat in Salah. It’s another huge test for Robinson and there could be more than just three points on the table. Robinson is looking to take over Andy Robertson’s place as the Premier League’s best left-back and with the Scotsman coming to the end of his Liverpool career, links between ‘Jedi’ and the Scouse club are only growing. His energy and excellence at both ends of the pitch make him a natural replacement for Robertson and Fulham will likely face a massive battle to keep him at the club.

Kenan Yildiz, Juventus' 19-year-old sensation, has captured the attention of football enthusiasts worldwide with his remarkable performance against Manchester City in the Champions League. The post Aston Villa Interested in €80m valued Kenan Yildiz but Juventus reluctant to sell appeared first on FootItalia.com.

Frank Lampard avoided a nightmare before Christmas after his side came from behind to beat rock-bottom Hull. Victory over the Tigers was the Chelsea legend’s first at home since being appointed manager at the end of November. His side were dominant from the off and created the game’s best chances, but it was Hull, with […]

Marc Skinner has insisted Manchester United Women still have the support of INEOS despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments. The Red Devils co-owner controversially brushed aside Skinner’s team during an interview with United We Stand last week. GettySkinner has responded to Ratcliffe’s comments about United’s women’s team[/caption] Ratcliffe said ‘there’s only so much’ you can do in a controversial interviewGetty Ratcliffe told the fanzine: “There’s only so much that you can do and our focus has been on the men’s team. “If not, you get spread too thinly. We need to sort out the main issue, the men’s team. “The women’s team is an opportunity. Women’s football is growing really quickly in popularity and size. We need to participate in that. “The girls wear a Manchester United badge on their shirt and they’re representing the club.” His remarks came as part of the same interview in which he called United ‘mediocre’ in a series of bombshell statements. Skinner has now responded to the British billionaire’s comments, though, ahead of his side’s trip to Crystal Palace. Asked about Ratcliffe’s remarks in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Skinner said: “Words are cheap but actions last longer. “I see the actions. It’s hard for me to hear those comments but actually that’s not what I see from the (Ineos) working group that is with us everyday. “Would I love the biggest budget in the league? Of course I would, I think everyone would. Everyone in this room wants a sustainable game. “We want to grow, we want women to have the same rights, to grow those rights, to have the finances available for all resources. But unfortunately we’ve got to work for that because we’re starting from behind.” GettyUnited won the Women’s FA Cup under Skinner last season[/caption] The Red Devils boss still believes the women’s team have the support of Ineos, adding: “Support isn’t always finance. “It’s knowing you’ve got a strategy. I feel supported in the fact that everybody in this club wants our team to do well and we’re going to grow towards a sustainable model. “There’s a lot reported about us and I understand why. But when you feel it, when you’re internal, it’s not a lie. We’re not lying. But there are different ways you can show support.” Skinner has been in charge since 2021 and guided the club to the Women’s FA Cup last season. His side are currently fourth in the Women’s Super League after nine matches this term. United find themselves nine points behind leaders Chelsea ahead of their clash with Palace this weekend.