Everton are among a cluster of Premier League clubs tracking Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik, who has been dubbed the “new Viktor Gyokeres” by scouts after an explosive Championship season that has made him one of the most talked-about forwards outside the top flight.
The 24-year-old Slovenian joined Swansea on a free transfer from Bordeaux in 2024 and has taken the Championship by storm this term with 22 goals, sitting as the division’s leading scorer. TEAMtalk sources confirm that Everton have carried out detailed checks alongside Brighton, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Leeds, Brentford and West Ham, meaning David Moyes faces stiff competition if the club decide to pursue him seriously this summer.
Why Zan Vipotnik fits Everton’s striker profile
Everton’s need for a prolific centre-forward this summer has been well documented. With Beto and Thierno Barry combining for just 11 Premier League goals between them this season, Moyes is looking for more reliable firepower in the final third. Vipotnik’s record of 22 Championship goals in a single campaign is exactly the kind of output that demands attention, particularly for a club hoping to push for European football next season.
He came to Swansea for nothing from Bordeaux, has proven he can adapt quickly to English football and has more than doubled his goal tally from his debut season. That trajectory closely mirrors the Gyokeres story, and one Premier League scout told TEAMtalk there is a genuine belief among clubs that Vipotnik is capable of making a similar leap into the top flight. Gyokeres famously found his rhythm in the Championship at Coventry City before moving to Sporting CP and scoring 97 goals in 102 appearances, earning himself a move to Arsenal last summer. The parallels are not lost on the clubs watching Vipotnik.
What could complicate an Everton move for Vipotnik?
Swansea moved quickly last month to hand Vipotnik a new long-term deal, a shrewd piece of business that puts them firmly in the driving seat in any future negotiation. TEAMtalk understands the extension was driven by a desire to protect his transfer value rather than a genuine expectation he will remain in South Wales. In other words, Swansea have made sure they will be paid well for him rather than risk losing him cheaply.
The competition for his signature is also real and growing. Brighton have scouted him extensively, which is significant given the club’s history of spotting Championship talent early — it was Brighton who originally brought Gyokeres to England before selling him to Coventry. Sporting CP are also monitoring Vipotnik’s situation, giving the story an added European dimension.
For Everton, a free transfer origin story, 22 goals in one season and a comparatively affordable price tag make Vipotnik a genuinely compelling option. Whether Moyes can convince the Friedkin Group to move quickly enough to beat the Premier League queue is the key question heading into the summer window.
