£64m star 'wants to leave' Arsenal, agent planning talks with Barcelona director
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres is eyeing a move away from the club before the transfer deadline, according to Spanish outlet Cadena COPE.
The Sweden international had a relatively good debut season with the Gunners last term. He scored 21 goals from 55 appearances in all competitions.
Gyokeres lost his starting spot to Kai Havertz towards the end of the campaign. The German made his mark with crucial goals against Burnley and Paris Saint-Germain.
Havertz continued the good form by scoring against Manchester City in the Community Shield last weekend.
El Chiringuito TV recently claimed that Barcelona are weighing up a possible approach for Gyokeres, and COPE now provide a different update on the striker’s future at Arsenal.
The outlet claim that Gyokeres is ‘offering himself and wants to leave Arsenal’. His agent ‘wants to meet’ Blaugrana sporting director Deco regarding a potential transfer to the club.
While Deco has not considered Gyokeres as a striker option, it is reported that the situation could become more active, given the Swede’s desire to leave the English champions.
Meanwhile, COPE add that Barcelona face an impossible task of signing Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez and believe the striker won’t go to Arsenal despite their efforts to convince him.
Arsenal unlikely to part ways with Gyokeres
Barcelona find themselves short in the centre-forward department with Ferran Torres’ exit to Paris Saint-Germain. They may want to secure a marquee addition before the deadline.
Spanish outlets have linked Gyokeres with an exit over the past few days, but we don’t believe Arsenal would entertain his departure unless they have a high-profile replacement planned.
The 28-year-old, who was signed for £64 million from Sporting CP last summer, had a slow start to his Gunners career.
The squad had to adapt to an out-and-out striker, which they pretty much did during the back end of the 2025/26 season.
14 of Gyokeres’ 21 goals came in the second half of the campaign, including a crucial winner against Everton at home. The striker answered his critics with multiple standout displays.
He is currently behind Havertz in the pecking order for a starting spot, but things could change quickly in football. A lean run for the German could mean Gyokeres could be reinstated up front.
With the Gunners playing in four competitions, the former Sporting CP man could easily win a starting league berth too by stepping up in a Champions League game, for example.
Gyokeres is not completely out of favour like Gabriel Jesus at the moment. There is a high possibility that Jesus could move on after being left out of the matchday squad recently.
Arsenal have had Alvarez as a top target for a while, but Atletico are poised to keep him. Victor Osimhen was recently linked, but Galatasaray have no plans to sell him either.
Looking at this, the Gunners are unlikely to weaken themselves by permitting Gyokeres’ exit. The move could be agent-driven, but we don’t see Arsenal contemplating a sale.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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