Gyokeres, Delap, Sesko, Osimhen: Which clubs are the best fit for Europe’s in-demand strikers?

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With the summer transfer window fast approaching, many of Europe’s finest are poised and ready to start their business.

Plenty of clubs are in the market for an elite striker and there is a healthy smattering of forwards to choose from across the continent — ranging from promising young talents to seasoned No 9s already into their peak years.

Of course, it would be over-simplistic for each club to simply look for the ‘best’ player out there, but rather seek the right one for their system of playing. To that end, allow The Athletic to oversee a matchmaking exercise — pairing some of Europe’s most intriguing forwards with the teams that appear to suit them best.

Some of our matches will be grounded in data, others in tactics. A few may be long shots — but that’s all part of the fun.

Welcome to a round of tactical speed dating among Europe’s top strikers.

(All data correct as of Friday, April 11)

Which side of Manchester needs Victor Osimhen? 

Victor Osimhen’s season-long loan from Napoli to Galatasaray has the feel of a strange footballing gap year. The move to Istanbul came about after his proposed transfer to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli collapsed at the last minute, leaving Napoli scrambling for a short-term solution. Having already signed Romelu Lukaku as his replacement and omitted Osimhen from their squad, a loan was the only viable option.

His return to Naples this summer once his loan expires is expected to be little more than a brief stopover — Napoli director Giovanni Manna has already made it clear they are seeking a permanent sale “as quickly as possible”.

Unlike some other strikers in this article, Osimhen operates as a more traditional No 9, focusing less on dropping deep and linking play, and more on stretching defences with explosive runs in-behind and attacking the box with vigour.

In his 2023-24 season with Napoli, Osimhen recorded the third-highest ratio of shots on goal to touches in Europe’s top four divisions, trailing only Artem Dovbyk of Spain’s Girona and Erling Haaland of Manchester City. Like the latter, the 26-year-old Nigeria international keeps his remit devastatingly simple — find space and score goals.

Any club would naturally be eager to sign a player who has mastered the most fundamental skill required to excel as a striker. But some are less in need — City, for instance, have little reason to add another high-volume shooter alongside Haaland.

The same cannot be said for their crosstown rivals Manchester United, whose strikers have struggled to generate shooting opportunities. Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have recorded fewer shots per touch than any other centre-forward to play at least 900 minutes in the Premier League this season. Before United’s 1-0 away defeat against Nottingham Forest at the start of this month, Zirkzee expressed uncertainty around his best position in their attacking setup, telling former England defender turned broadcaster Rio Ferdinand that he sees himself as “a bit in between” a No 9 and No 10.

Osimhen, by contrast, has no doubts about where on the pitch his strengths lie. A prolific penalty-box striker like him could provide head coach Ruben Amorim with the attacking impetus his tenure has sorely lacked so far.

Is Viktor Gyokeres the wrong man for Arsenal?

As reported by The Athletic last month, Arsenal have developed a strong interest in Gyokeres. But given his frightening goalscoring record — 87 goals in 94 games for Portugal’s Sporting CP — they are unlikely to be the only ones circling.

It’s unclear whether the 26-year-old Sweden international is a natural fit for Arsenal. As evidenced by his run-style wheel below, Gyokeres favours lateral movements in-behind the defence. Yet Mikel Arteta’s side are already well stocked in wide areas, particularly with the excellent Bukayo Saka, and these players are unlikely to want a centre-forward clogging up their spaces. Instead, they would favour a team-mate who capitalises on their dangerous deliveries, but despite his physical presence, the 6ft 2in (1.92m) Gyokeres is not particularly prolific in the air, and makes relatively few of these cross-receiver runs.

Additionally, Arsenal prefer to exert controlled dominance over matches, which would limit the opportunities for the type of dangerous runs in-behind that Gyokeres thrives on. After all, Kai Havertz was not signed from Chelsea in summer 2023 for his prolific goalscoring ability, but for his intelligent pressing, deft link-up play, and versatility to interchange positions with Arsenal’s other forwards — qualities that make their attacking unit dynamic and unpredictable.

Gyokeres instead might be better served joining Arne Slot’s Liverpool.

While this season’s champions-elect are certainly more restrained under Slot than during predecessor Jurgen Klopp’s “heavy metal” era, sweeping counter-attacks remain a cornerstone to their success. Liverpool have created 9.9 expected goals from fast breaks, the most this season in the Premier League, underlining that they are still kings of the transition. Gyokeres’ explosive runs from deep would only enhance the potency of these attacks.

Does Gyokeres’ skill set require a specific approach? (Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP via Getty Images)

Can’t afford Alexander Isak? Go for Hugo Ekitike instead

Many sides covet Isak, but as far as Newcastle United are concerned, their desire is futile. There’s little reason why the club would sanction the sale of their star man. Like any jilted lover, those targeting Isak will have to cast their net wider in search of the next best thing.

The natural train of thought follows: if the 25-year-old Sweden international is out of reach, can we find someone who resembles him? Finding this elusive substitute, however, is difficult. Simply comparing his attacking output to other front men is flawed, as strikers with completely different profiles can reach similar goal tallies — and Isak is valued for so much more than his end-product.

Hugo Ekitike scoring in an English stadium – will this be a more familiar sight in 2025-26? (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

The reason many view him as a natural fit for Arsenal is because his dynamic link-up play, versatility, and technical quality align perfectly with Arteta’s fluid, high-energy approach.

To that end, we assessed which players most closely resemble Isak’s off-ball movement using SkillCorner data.

Of those who do, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ekitike stands out. As shown in the chart below, he favours a similar combination of runs into space and runs attacking crosses. His goal against Tottenham Hotspur in Thursday’s 1-1 Europa League quarter-final first leg in north London was right out of the Isak playbook. Picking up the ball in the left channel, the Frenchman dribbled quickly up the pitch before driving a low effort past Guglielmo Vicario.

At 22 years old, Ekitike has time on his side, along with the raw fundamentals required to become an elite striker.

Perhaps Arsenal and others would be better served refocusing their recruitment efforts on him — and letting the Isak infatuation go.

Why Liam Delap fits at Forest  

Delap’s performances up front for Ipswich Town have been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal campaign that looks certain to end in a return to the Championship one year after they left it. Once that happens at some point in the coming weeks, a relegation release clause — reported to be around £30million — will make the 22-year-old former Manchester City academy graduate an attractive target for a host of Premier League clubs.

While Delap’s output has been impressive (no player has scored a higher proportion of their team’s goals this season in the Premier League), playing for a weaker side such as Ipswich can, counterintuitively, highlight the positive aspects of a centre-forward’s game.

Limited largely to counter-attacks, Delap often receives the ball in large amounts of space, with the opposition having committed numbers forward themselves. On average, he carries the ball 7.3 metres after receiving a pass — the highest figure in the Premier League for that metric. Playing in transition maximises Delap’s speed and physicality, but it remains uncertain how he would adapt to the confined spaces typically afforded to attackers playing for possession-dominant sides.

That’s not to say Delap couldn’t adapt, but based on his profile this season, a direct side such as Nottingham Forest — where attacks are predominantly quick counters — would seem a natural fit.

Alternatively, Bournemouth are also tailored to Delap’s attributes, but would also offer the chance to work on his out-of-possession high pressing, a concept fundamental to head coach Andoni Iraola’s style.

Delap would be a good pick-up for Forest after facing them this season with Ipswich (Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Is Darwin Nunez an ideal swap-figure?

Nunez has become a cult figure at Liverpool since he arrived from Portugal’s Benfica three seasons ago. He might not have the goalscoring return to match his popularity, but his industry and enthusiasm are often a catalyst for the Anfield faithful.

While finesse might not be high on the list of attributes the Uruguay international possesses, his chaotic, energetic style certainly has its place — even if that might not be in an Arne Slot-coached team.

It’s clear that Nunez thrives with space in front of him, so a move to a transitional, direct side would be a wise choice to maximise his skill set — think Eintracht Frankfurt if they for any reason had a Hugo Ekitike-sized hole to fill in the summer.

Nunez might have accidentally disclosed his preference for a next move, after liking an Instagram story post linking him with Milan earlier this year. That match-up could be a fruitful one given the Italian side’s playing style — predicated on solid build-up with a pacy, direct attacking threat.

If Nunez were to truly embrace the chaos with a view to staying in the Premier League, surely he should look no further than Bournemouth? Yes, we did say that not all suggestions in this article might be realistic, but Iraola’s swashbuckling style is perfectly suited to the 25-year-old’s attributes.

A deal including a swap of Nunez for one of Bournemouth defenders Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen? Liverpool fans would most likely shake hands on that.

Why Barcelona need Jonathan David 

David’s situation is particularly interesting this summer, given that as things stand he will be a free agent by the start of July.

An average goalscoring rate of 0.61 per 90 minutes across his five seasons at Lille in the French top flight suggests he is definitely doing a lot right at the sharp end of the pitch, so maybe the best approach would be to look at teams which profile similarly to his current employers. Think of it as a “plug and play” signing, allowing the smoothest of transitions for David at a prospective new club.

Running a similarity analysis on Lille’s play style, some interesting names pop up. Staying in France could see Marseille become an attractive prospect for him — with a possession-dominant style under Roberto De Zerbi — but David would undoubtedly be drawn to the Spanish side on our shortlist.

The 25-year-old Canada international recently told The Athletic that his dream is to play for Barcelona, as they were “always the team I grew up supporting. When you grow up supporting a team, it’s your dream to play for them”.

While Robert Lewandowski continues to defy his age at 36, it would be good succession planning for Barcelona to look at David. Without a transfer fee to pay, it could be a mutually beneficial move for all parties — with David likely to fit into a style that is already suited to him.

A move to Borussia Dortmund or Manchester City would feel less likely, but Barcelona could do worse than to bring David to Catalonia and bed him in before Lewandowski’s powers do eventually dwindle.

Could David be a Canadian in Catalonia? (Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images)

Why the old ‘Big Four’ all need Benjamin Sesko

It is easy to forget that Sesko is still only 21 years old. Since he first took to the field for Red Bull Salzburg as a gangly 17-year-old, there has been talk of Europe’s top clubs circling him — and this summer is going to be no different.

Given his 6ft 5in (195cm) frame, Sesko is often thought of as a target man, but his versatility is one of his strongest attributes — equally able to run in behind as he is to come towards the ball and link the play. This is highlighted below in his SkillCorner profile, compared with centre-forwards across Europe’s top seven leagues.

In a Red Bull system, running a lot is compulsory, but the variety of his movements is what makes Sesko a malleable asset among the continent’s elite.

Big Ben Sesko to London this summer? (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Sesko’s career is still in its early stages, which means any club looking in his direction would still have plenty of time to mould him into the profile of player they want.

Links with Arsenal do have their place, as Sesko would be able to provide a focal presence at the top of their attack — meeting crosses from wide and acting as a penalty-box striker to occupy defenders. Meanwhile, his ability to drop into deeper areas would allow him to be a foil for the likes of Gabriel Martinelli or Bukayo Saka to make out-to-in runs from wide.

In truth, the same logic could be applied to Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United — all of who would benefit from a new No 9 on their books — which is precisely what makes Sesko such an attractive prospect.

Why Liverpool should battle United for Cunha

There is little doubt that Matheus Cunha has been Wolves’ talisman this season. Despite having barely played as an out-and-out striker, a return of 13 Premier League goals shows the degree to which he has shouldered the attacking responsibility to help his side stave off relegation.

Operating as a left-sided No 10, the Brazil international’s intelligence to drift into pockets of space will often mean that all attacking roads go through him. As well as his goals haul, no Wolves player has created more open-play chances or generated a higher expected assists tally.

Ideally, you would clone Cunha and play them both — one to craft the chance and the other to finish it.

With a deftness of touch that often belies his 6ft frame, the 25-year-old will often look to drive his team forward single-handedly with his close control. His 118 take-ons in this season’s Premier League are more than any other player in the Wolves squad — indeed, no other team-mate has broken into three figures.

Manchester United have witnessed his South American charms first-hand after Cunha’s olimpico goal gave Wolves the lead in their December meeting this season. With Ruben Amorim’s side in desperate need of a player to stitch their attack together, he could be the perfect player to link the midfield and forward line — particularly given that he is adept at playing in a 3-4-2-1 system.

But with the tactical intelligence he possesses, could Cunha alternatively transform Liverpool’s attack as a false nine? Fellow Brazilian Roberto Firmino achieved legendary status at Anfield through his ability to drop into pockets to facilitate wide runners ahead of him, and Cunha has all the attributes to perform a similar role, should Slot want to regenerate his front line.

@wolves Matheus with the Olimpico 💫 #Wolves #PremierLeague #MatheusCunha ♬ original sound – wolves

Need a specialist? Go for Dusan Vlahovic

Vlahovic is at a critical juncture in his career.

At 25 years old, the Serbia striker is approaching his peak years, but we’re at a time where there is greater confusion about his skill set than ever. A goalscoring rate of one-in-two since joining Juventus from fellow Italians Fiorentina in January 2022 is not to be sniffed at, but there is a feeling that there is more to wring out of him.

Vlahovic is an out-and-out penalty box striker – remember those? (Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images)

Crucially, Vlahovic might be available this summer, given he is not willing to extend a contract that runs to the end of next season. Who would want him? A club looking for an out-and-out penalty-box striker. Previously linked with Arsenal, Vlahovic has the energy of a player who could play a starring role on transfer deadline day, which this year falls on September 1.

Vlahovic’s 8.3 touches per shot is the fifth-fewest among forwards across Europe’s top four leagues, pointing to a player whose sole focus is to be on the end of attacking sequences. A rate of just 27.5 touches per 90 minutes puts him in the bottom 20 per cent of forwards in Serie A, so any interested clubs should be pretty clear on the profile of player they’d be getting.

(Top photos: Osimhen, left, and Delap; Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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