Sport Højlund vs Gyökeres: Mitchell predicts striker to score most goals next season
Former Manchester United defender Demetri Mitchell has boldly forecast that Rasmus Højlund will outscore Viktor Gyökeres in the upcoming season, leading to intense discussion among fans and pundits alike on which striker will truly deliver the goods at the top level .
1. Mitchell’s Claim
Mitchell, writing on X, made a blunt prediction:
> “Gonna put it out there Højlund will have a better season than Gyokeres. He has to get off to a good start; if he doesn’t score for a few, he’s done for.”
It’s a confident and somewhat provocative stance, given Gyökeres’ blistering form in Portugal and Højlund’s relative inconsistency at Manchester United thus far.
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2. Viktor Gyökeres: A goal‑machine from Sporting to Arsenal
Gyökeres scored 54 goals in 52 appearances for Sporting in the 2024–25 campaign, with 39 goals in just 33 league matches en route to another primeira liga title .
In 2024 alone, he was crowned IFFHS Men’s World Top Scorer with 62 goals across club and country, surpassing Erling Haaland (49) and Harry Kane (46) .
His non‑penalty goals per 90 minutes standout: 0.87, higher than Haaland, Kane, Mbappé, Lewandowski and all others in Europe’s top leagues last season .
His style combines ferocious pace, physicality, off‑ball intelligence, and dominance both aerially and in open play. He’s comfortable holding the ball, making runs into the channels, and often excuses himself with his celebrated “mask” celebration .
Gyökeres has just completed a £63–£64 million move to Arsenal, where he joins a side long in need of a reliable central striker. Early betting markets already place him among the leading Golden Boot contenders for the 2025–26 Premier League season, with significant market backing ahead of Haaland and Salah .
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3. Rasmus Højlund: Talent and tactical opportunity under Ruben Amorim
Signed by Manchester United in August 2023, Højlund finished his first Premier League season with 10 goals in the league, added five in six Champions League matches, and contributed in their FA Cup triumph in 2024–25 .
He earned Premier League Player of the Month in February 2025, the first Dane to do so, evidence of the potential held within the 22‑year‑old striker .
Pundits like Owen Hargreaves and TNT Sports punditry have remarked on how Ruben Amorim, who famously transformed Gyökeres at Sporting, might similarly elevate Højlund, stating that the Danish forward is “really talented” and well‑suited to Amorim’s system .
According to ScoutingStats analysis, Højlund actually delivers a higher conversion rate than Gyökeres—26% of shots versus 22%, despite significantly lower volume; he averages fewer touches and shot‑creation actions, but is very efficient with what he gets .
Under Amorim’s 3‑4‑3 system heavy on wing‑back width and box‑to‑box movement, a striker like Højlund—possessing raw strength, acceleration, and finishing ability—could thrive if integrated properly.
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4. Comparative snapshot
Feature Viktor Gyökeres Rasmus Højlund
Last season’s goals ~54 goals in 52 matches (Sporting), Primeira Liga top scorer ~16 league goals + contribution in cups and CL (United)
Shot volume / xG ~3.54 shots per match, xG ~1.04 ~1.5 shots per match, xG ~0.38
Conversion rate efficiency 22% 26%
Non‑penalty goals per 90 0.87 (Europe’s highest) Less in volume but efficient per shot
Tactical system Sporting/Arsenal centre of play, heavily supported wing play Still adapting at United; future under Amorim promising
Premier League experience None yet Two seasons with 10 league goals and first PL Player of Month
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5. Why Mitchell backs Højlund over Gyökeres
Demetri Mitchell’s prediction likely stems from two lines of thinking:
1. System familiarity: Mitchell knows United personnel and believes Højlund, under Amorim’s guidance, will become the focal point, similar to what Gyökeres became at Sporting. Given Amorim’s track record of developing strikers, Mitchell sees Højlund unlocking new heights given the right environment.
2. Mentality and adaptation: Mitchell emphasized that Højlund “has to get off to a good start; if he doesn’t score for a few, he’s done.” Under that pressure, a strong early run could justify the hype and unlock confidence that might sustain a long run of goals.
Yet—Mitchell’s prediction isn’t without risk. Gyökeres arrives in England at peak form, while Højlund has scored fewer goals and is still building consistency at United.
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6. Potential caveats and context
Gyökeres has never played in EPL: His explosive form in Portugal may or may not translate directly to England’s more physical and tactical setting . Critics like Troy Deeney have cautioned that he may not be a “natural finisher” who can replicate his output against Premier League defenses .
Højlund’s limited service: In his first season at United under Erik ten Hag, Højlund often lacked the necessary midfield and wing support; under Amorim, if the system shifts to feed him more, his efficiency could escalate quickly .
Injury and adaptation windows: Gyökeres suffered a hamstring injury in early 2025 causing a two-month absence, yet still returned to score braces immediately and finish top scorer overall .
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7. What the early odds say
Betting markets are already favoring Gyökeres as one of the leading picks for the 2025–26 Golden Boot, often ranked above even Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah in popularity among punters .
Højlund, while respected, has far less market share or backing for top scorer honors, reflecting expectations that Arsenal’s new signing is more likely to dominate in volume.
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8. Conclusion: Who will score more next season?
On one hand, Gyökeres arrives as a proven, dominant goal scorer with elite metrics: non‑penalty goals per 90 highest in Europe, world scoring accolades, and recent form that terrifies defenses. However, he faces adaptation questions.
On the other hand, Højlund is young, efficient, and stands to benefit from Amorim’s attacking system at Manchester United—his conversion rate suggests a lethal player in the making if volume increases. Mitchell’s prediction hinges on that system change and early results swinging Højlund’s confidence and productivity skywards.
Ultimately, the contest will be decided by how well Højlund adapts under Amorim, how quickly Gyökeres settles into Arsenal’s rhythm, and whether the Premier League suits either striker as dramatically as it has suited Gyökeres’ game in Portugal.
Mitchell’s stake is bold—but if Manchester United transforms into a more striker‑centric outfit, Højlund could indeed leapfrog expectations and even rival Gyökeres’ goal returns. Still, Gyökeres remains the benchmark for elite output last season—and until Højlund consistently matches that volume, Gyökeres enters 2025–26 as the favorite. But in football, all it takes is one breakout season—and Mitchell believes that could belong to Højlund next.
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