Chelsea have officially written their name into European football history as the only club to have won all three major UEFA club competitions. Their latest triumph came after a dominant 4-1 victory over Real Betis in Poland, where they secured the UEFA Conference League title to add to their previous Champions League and Europa League successes — a feat unmatched by any other team in the sport.
While this historic achievement marks a significant milestone for the club, Chelsea and manager Enzo Maresca are already looking ahead, focused on strengthening the squad for the upcoming season. Reports suggest that their primary target is Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres, with discussions reportedly in progress to bring the prolific forward to Stamford Bridge.
According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Chelsea have now taken concrete steps in their pursuit of Gyökeres, having made an official approach to Sporting. The Lisbon-based side, who recently celebrated their Taca de Portugal final victory over Benfica, are said to be open to talks regarding a potential transfer.
Gyökeres had been on Chelsea’s radar previously, but the club’s initial interest was cautious due to uncertainties surrounding Champions League qualification. Now, with their place in next season’s competition secured, and buoyed by their recent European silverware, Chelsea are in a strong position to aggressively pursue top targets in the market.
The competition for Gyökeres’s signature is expected to be fierce, with Juventus and Arsenal also showing interest in the Swedish international. The striker’s contract reportedly includes a release clause of €100m (£84m), but sources indicate that Sporting president Frederico Varandas might be willing to consider offers in the region of €65m (£54m), presenting Chelsea with an opportunity to negotiate a deal.
Meanwhile, Chelsea forward Cole Palmer would likely be excited by the prospect of Gyökeres joining the squad.
Palmer showed visible frustration with teammate Nicolas Jackson during the Conference League final after Jackson squandered a crucial chance to put the game beyond reach when the score was 2-1.
Instead of passing to an unmarked Jadon Sancho, Jackson overran the ball, leading to Palmer’s emotional outburst and a subsequent yellow card.
Although Palmer had earlier scored to give Chelsea the lead, his partnership with Jackson has struggled to deliver consistent results.
According to Transfermarkt, Jackson has only scored eight goals assisted by Palmer in 72 games — a modest return that highlights the lack of chemistry between the pair.
In contrast, Gyökeres has been in exceptional form for Sporting, having netted 97 goals in 102 appearances.
Securing a player of Gyökeres’s calibre could significantly boost Chelsea’s attacking prowess and would likely be welcomed by Palmer as an opportunity to link up with a more clinical and decisive striker.
