Viktor Gyokeres is the underwhelming Swansea City signing now the hottest striker in Europe

“It was written it had to be like this,” said boss Rubin Amorim, after watching his Sporting side sensationally condemn Manchester City to their third defeat in a week - and their heaviest since September 2020.

Amorim understandably made the most of his penultimate game with the Portuguese champions on Tuesday night, as they saw off Pep Guardiola's men with a sensational 4-1 win. But the scenes at full-time were as much about saying goodbye to the fans as they were about celebrating a win over one of the best teams on the planet right now.

Sunday's match against Braga will be his last, with Amorim poised to take the reins at Manchester United, where he will hope to rebuild one of English football's most famous and decorated names.

There's every chance he won't be the only high-profile departure, either. While Tuesday added weight behind Amorim's name, it also further raised the stock of what is arguably the hottest property in European football right now.

A hat-trick on the night will have surely ensured that Viktor Gyokeres will remain firmly on the radar of potential admirers across the continent. He's now netted an astonishing 66 goals in 67 games for Sporting, and it seems only a matter of time before he lands a big move to one of Europe's bigger names.

It's a state of affairs that might well perplex a few onlookers in SA1.

Gyokeres secured a loan move to Swansea City from Brighton and Hove Albion in October 2020, but lasted just a few months before returning to his parent club the following January.

In total, the Swede started just three games in all competitions for the Swans, racking up another nine substitute appearances. His only goal coming in his final outing, a 2-0 win over Stevenage in the FA Cup.

Steve Cooper didn't seem sold on the then 22-year-old, whose departure appeared immediately related to his lack of game time.

"Brighton wanted to recall him, that happened a couple of days ago and he has said his goodbyes," said Cooper in January 2021.

"I have to say he is a really good guy, and there is a good player in there.

"I think it was a loan that came a bit later than what everyone wanted. He had some bad luck picking up Covid on international duty too.

"He was happy here, but he wanted to play more football."

A loan spell at Coventry City quickly followed, and he eventually ended up staying for two years with the Sky Blues, netting 39 goals, a run of form that attracted the attention of his current employers. It also bagged Coventry an eight-figure fee.

His current trajectory means his next price tag likely to be his heftiest yet.