Viktor Gyökeres is high on Steve Cooper’s favoured strikers list to sign on loan for the rest of this season, however there is more to this man than just ninety minutes in a Swansea shirt. And it’s personal.

Sadly for him Viktor Gyökeres is low on ex swans manager Graeme Potter’s priorities. This was confirmed with last nights surprise signing of Andi Zeqiri, the highly rated Swiss striker who will definitely push Gyökeres back further in his Brighton selection opportunities this season. Zeqiri is described by Potter as a real talent and he is excited to get his signature.

That leaves Viktor at his professional football crossroads.

Cooper has now confirmed his eye is fully on Victor who started his career at Brommapojkarna ( Bromma ) in Sweden. On 6th of September 2017, having scored 10 league goals at the time, Gyökeres signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion with the deal to go through at the conclusion of the Swedish Superettan season.He ended the season with a return of 13 goals in 29 league appearances, including a hat-trick on the final day as Brommapojkarna secured promotion to the Svenska Allsvenskan as league champions.

Viktor’s expectations of first team football at Brighton though just did not happen.

In July 2019 he moved on loan to German second tier side FC St. Pauli for the 2019—20 season. On the opening day of the season he made his debut coming on as a sub in a 1—1 away draw to Arminia. Gyökeres scored his first goal for St Pauli on 29 September scoring the second in a 2—0 home victory over SV Sandhausen.

After his loan spell he returned to Brighton.

That basically starts the tale of Victor and his reasons for stalling on any future loan moves away from Brighton. Yesterday’s surprise news on Potter’s new Brighton signing will deal a huge blow to Viktor who has made it clear he wants premier league football. And if his move away from Brighton is to be as a Swansea player, the issue is how far do I have to be away from the south coast club.

History has showed us a move to Swansea for a young man either ends in the player loving everything about the area, or not being able to settle in a city that is very different to the average English town over the border.

So what can we learn from Viktor’s time in England

In 2018 his partner Amanda Nildén signed for Brighton Ladies having also played for Brommapojkarna where her personal relationship flourished with Viktor. When Viktor signed for Brighton Amanda was keen to follow. A respected defender not unlike her father and grandfather at AIK, she does possess real talent. When Viktor moved from Sweden she too had trials with Brighton and was offered a contract, thus cementing a period of time in Brighton with Viktor. This of course presented them with the perfect scenario. Two career minded young people, money not an issue, in a relationship doing what they love most. Playing football at the same club.

However, were things just too good ?

Unfortunately this season Amanda now finds herself in Sweden having recently signed for Eskilstuna United, and Viktor a young 22 year old with every aspiration professionally achieved one minute, is now in a real dilemma. This site will not report on private or domestic circumstances but anyone concerned with what happens beyond the ninety minutes of Swansea City football should take heed of Steve Cooper’s words in yesterday’s press conference. Everything has to be aligned and In place to make these signings happen. ‘He’s a player we like, no doubt about it, but everything has to be right’ Cooper stated. With Viktor’s relationship hundreds of miles away he finds himself at his first crossroads in life, and as a young footballer away from home too. Having spent much of his three years at Brighton in reserve football with decent scoring returns, he has only played two first team games with one goal to his name. His one goal for Sweden as a full international came against Iceland in a Dubai friendly.

For things to be aligned for a player, in Coopers words, then players like Viktor have to have everything in place. And this is not just with reference to football. He is most certainly a player who needs to belong, Cooper is a man who can make that happen, Viktor also needs to feel at home. His career flourished when he was stable and happy. His professional career when he was scoring goals was positive, but seemingly only when he was settled and secure. His scoring record speaks for itself before his move to Brighton. Since that move, which included a developing relationship with a fellow professional and partner was made he has struggled. It’s a fact that’s never going to be argued against. One thing is going in Cooper’s favour, when Viktor was growing up and watching premier league football Swansea City were at their height, if he genuinely believes those days can be returned at the Liberty Cooper most certainly will throw everything at him to make that happen.

Steve Cooper understands young players, his track record is first class. He continues to do that at Swansea within a financial system that a lot of managers would find incredibly difficult. To that end Viktor needs to take stock, get good advice, and this time not follow his heart. At Swansea he gets a second chance under a forward thinking strategic manager who to date has only really known success. So if those planets are all in line, and the financial figures work then Viktor needs to make that move.

Because at Swansea those premier league dreams just may come true. And he could play a huge part in that over the coming months. It’s time for Viktor to think about Viktor and his future. Maybe then the goals will return and that smile will be back on his face.

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