£64m star could leave Arsenal after surprise Arteta decision, Barcelona exploring move - opinion
Arsenal started their Premier League title defence with a convincing 3-0 win over newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium on Friday evening.
Kai Havertz got the nod to lead the line ahead of Viktor Gyokeres, and the German continued his good form by scoring the Gunners’ second goal in the opening half.
Manager Mikel Arteta opted to use his full set of substitutes against the Sky Blues, and there was a huge surprise with Gyokeres failing to make a cameo appearance.
The £64 million signing had a good debut season with 21 goals in all competitions last term. He had a slow start to proceedings but fared better in the back end with 14 goals.
Gyokeres had multiple Premier League and Champions League games last season where he started on the bench, but there was not a single match where he was left unused.
Hence, yesterday’s decision from Arteta raised some eyebrows, and it could be a possible hint that Gyokeres could leave, with the club seemingly keen on landing a new marquee striker.
Arsenal have been long-term admirers of Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, and continue to maintain a keen interest in the World Cup winner during the final week of the transfer window.
Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen is another player the Gunners are ‘highly interested’ in, though the Nigerian star looks out of reach due to his staggering salary. Arsenal have indicated that the 27-year-old has to accept a huge pay cut for them to make a formal transfer bid.
Gyokeres does not appear close to joining any other European outfit at the moment, but Barcelona could be a club to watch out for, having failed to convince Atletico to sell Alvarez to them.
Journalist Jose Alvarez has claimed that Gyokeres is one of the strikers on the Blaugrana’s radar alongside Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez as they seek to fill the void left by Ferran Torres’ exit.
Martinez’s chances of leaving the Nerazzurri are non-existent. Inter president Giuseppe Marotta has categorically ruled out their captain’s departure with just days left before the transfer deadline.
Hence, Gyokeres could emerge as a prime target. It has been claimed that his agent wants to meet with Barcelona sporting director Deco to try and negotiate a suitable move in the coming days.
Atletico could be another possible destination for the Swede if they are prepared to negotiate a part-exchange for Alvarez. The next few days could give a clearer idea of Gyokeres’ future at Arsenal.
His failure to make a league appearance yesterday has no doubt increased speculation.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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