According to information from the Spanish newspaper ‘‘El Nacional‘‘, Mikel Arteta, the coach of the English club Arsenal, ruled out signing Viktor Gyökeres in the summer transfer market.
The Spanish coach preferred to look for a striker with qualities similar to those of Benjamin Sesko or Alexander Isak, which left the Sporting Lisbon striker out of the club’s plans.
Arsenal’s decision opened the door for the Spanish club Barcelona, who are still monitoring Gyökeres’ situation. The Swedish striker made it clear that he wants to leave Sporting this summer, confirming his readiness to demand his departure if necessary. Although Barcelona is aware of the complexity of signing him due to his high price, Deco, the club’s sporting director, does not rule out exploring this possibility if the player becomes available.
Viktor Gyökeres, 26, is one of the most prominent discoveries of the season in Europe. After joining Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2023, the Swedish striker has shown an exceptional instinct for scoring goals, becoming one of the key players in the Portuguese team. With his powerful style of play, ability to move easily, and efficiency in finishing attacks, Gyökeres has attracted the attention of several European clubs, including Barcelona.
Barcelona’s interest in Gyökeres is not new, as the Catalan club is looking for a striker who can compete with Robert Lewandowski and secure the future of the team’s attack. Gyökeres, with his talent and potential, represents an ideal option for this. However, his release clause, which is around 100 million euros, has been a major obstacle to any negotiations.
Mikel Arteta’s decision to rule out signing Gyökeres has opened the door for Barcelona. Although the Catalan club knows that the signing process will be complicated due to the striker’s high price tag, Deco continues to monitor the situation for any opportunity that may facilitate the process. For his part, Gyökeres has indicated his desire to leave Sporting this summer, confirming his willingness to pressure his club’s management to let him go if necessary, which could help facilitate negotiations.
The next few weeks will be decisive in determining the future of Viktor Gyökeres. Despite Arsenal ruling out signing him, Barcelona is still monitoring the situation closely. If Gyökeres becomes a major target for the Catalan club, Barcelona will not hesitate to try to sign him, although they are aware that the process will be complicated due to the player’s high price.