Viktor Gyokeres enjoyed a sensational season with Sporting (Image: Getty)
Soon-to-be new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has the opportunity to learn from the torrid time that his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino had to ensure as he looks to shortlist his transfer targets heading into the summer. Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres has been heavily linked with a move to the Blues ahead of next season, but the forward has reportedly undergone surgery which could prove an issue now.
Chelsea are desperate to bolster their forward ranks this summer, with ex-boss Pochettino making it no secret during the latter stages of this season that reinforcements in the final third were on the agenda this summer.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Brighton starlet Evan Ferguson and Brentford’s Ivan Toney are among a host of names to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, with Gyokeres also frequently being tipped to make the move back to England.
The Swedish international enjoyed a blistering campaign with Sporting, scoring 43 goals in 50 appearances in all competitions, and earning himself a bumper new contract extension with an £86million release clause.
Gyokeres’ clinical finishing is certainly what Chelsea will be looking for this summer, though their pursuit of the ex-Coventry star may need to be put on pause by Maresca.
According to Portuguese broadcaster Sport TV, the striker has undergone surgery on his left knee which will rule him out for approximately six weeks.
Mauricio Pochettino struggled to cope with Chelsea's injury problems (Image: Getty)
Gyokeres is said to have been playing through the pain for the past few months but ultimately ruled that surgery was the best course of action now that the season has drawn to a close.
Surgery will, of course, be viewed as the best way forward by Gyokeres, though it could prove a deciding factor in Chelsea’s pursuit of the striker given that they were almost forced to draw a line through this season due to their countless injury problems.
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Enzo Maresca is set to become Chelsea's new manager (Image: Getty)
Pochettino was forced to rejig his starting XI on a weekly basis whilst at the helm of the Blues due to recurring problems, and Maresca will be able to lay down a marker in some respect by ruling that his side should not pursue players who have a question mark over their fitness, like Gyokeres.
Chelsea appear to have paid the price for having to accelerate recovery periods over the course of the season, which may have led to some of the recurring problems that have kept some of their most exciting stars on the sideline.
Pre-season will be a key period for Maresca to get to grips with his squad and thus rushing Gyokeres back to fitness after forking out a mammoth fee to acquire his services is likely to be a step in the wrong direction by the Blues if they opt to overlook the surgery.
