Viktor has evolved into a formidable goalscorer. With an impressive tally of 78 goals in all competitions for Sporting Lisbon since his move to Portugal in July 2023, he is expected to be one of the most sought-after players in Europe this summer with both and linked.

However, his journey to stardom wasn't overnight. His transformation can be traced back to his two-and-a-half-year stint with Championship side Coventry City.

Gyokeres joined Coventry on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion in January 2021. CoventryLive's , who has been covering the Sky Blues for 27 years, closely followed Gyokeres' evolution from a decent forward to a player every European club would want.

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"It took him time to get going but everybody could see the raw attributes were there", Turner shared with . "It wasn't until towards the end of the season that the fans and certainly the coaches as well started to think, 'we might have something here'.

"Adi Viveash, the first team coach and assistant manager at the time, initially had doubts about Gyokeres' potential. However, he credited Mark Robins, Coventry's manager at the time, for firmly believing that Gyokeres was a top player in the making".

After a modest start with only five goals in a six-month loan at Coventry, the player's fortunes took a sharp turn as he netted 40 goals over the following two seasons post his permanent signing. Turner sheds light on the transformation: "He came back [in the summer] stronger, hungrier, fitter and more determined than ever, and he was just so single-minded and focused.

"Obviously, no one knew at that stage what he would go on to achieve at Sporting, but they knew they had one of the best players and one of the best strikers in the division at that time.

"What was also key was when Coventry signed him on a permanent deal, he had somebody who believed in him, rather than just going out on loan and being a loan player. He was actually a Coventry City player, and he sort of really bought into the club and knew what Mark Robins was trying to achieve.

The determination was evident, with Turner remarking: "You could tell he was very single-minded. He wanted to, and Mark Robins admitted this, get to the highest place in his career as quickly as possible. He didn't want to mess around".

Turner highlights the Swedish player's ambition and drive as pivotal in his ascent to prominence.

"In training, he was known to be a little bit grumpy, and that was largely due to the fact that he wanted everything done the right way," he admitted. "He had very high standards and made demands on his teammates. He was quite a serious guy off the pitch.

"On the pitch, he worked hard and was just really strong and a willing runner off the ball, a real team player as well. He was at his best when he had the ball at his feet and was running at defenders doing his thing."

Gyokeres has also been heavily linked with Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim now at the helm of M16, aiming to revitalise the Reds. Turner has opened up about how crucial the Portuguese manager was in Gyokeres' decision to join Sporting in 2023.

"There was interest from the Premier League, but his agent was fairly single-minded in knowing that it was the right step in his career", he revealed.

"Ruben Amorim indicated that was the player he wanted and that he could get the best out of him and kick on with his career. That connection was forged quite early on in the transfer window that summer, and they never strayed from that.

"There was only one club they wanted to go to, and that was it, and there was only one manager that he wanted to work with at that time and one coach, and that was Ruben Amorim. That's why obviously he's been so strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford since he's done so spectacularly well because there is that connection with the manager".