Barcelona keeping tabs on two Arsenal strikers?
August 19, 2026 02:30
Spanish champions Barcelona have been linked with two Arsenal forwards, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus, as they search for a replacement for Ferran Torres before the summer window shuts on September 1. Journalist Gerard Romero is cited as reporting that Barcelona are monitoring both players’ situations at Arsenal.
Arsenal’s internal pecking order and transfer plans are relevant to any move: Gyokeres finished last season as the club’s top scorer with 21 goals but his future is described as uncertain amid reports Arsenal want to recruit a marquee centre‑forward. Kai Havertz is currently the team’s preferred striker, while Jesus is considered third‑choice and has long been the subject of departure rumours.
KEY CONTEXT
- Ferran Torres has left Barcelona for Paris Saint‑Germain, creating an attacking vacancy.
- Barcelona have added players this summer, notably Anthony Gordon and Rodri, and have reportedly overcome financial constraints to strengthen the squad.
- Arsenal’s reported search for a high‑profile number nine could make Gyokeres available, and Gabriel Jesus has been linked with an exit for some time.
- The transfer window for the 2026 summer period closes on September 1.
WHY IT MATTERS
Bringing in a forward to replace Torres is a clear short‑term priority for Barcelona, and targeting two Arsenal options highlights how they are weighing multiple routes to fill that gap. Arsenal’s recruitment decisions — whether they sign a marquee centre‑forward — will directly affect Gyokeres’s availability, while Jesus’s peripheral role at Arsenal has long fuelled exit speculation. Any move would reshape the attacking options at both clubs ahead of the 2026/27 season.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Will Barcelona make a concrete offer for either Gyokeres or Jesus before the September 1 deadline?
- Will Arsenal pursue a marquee centre‑forward, and if so, does that trigger Gyokeres’s departure?
- Will Gabriel Jesus be moved on given his current standing in Arsenal’s pecking order?
- Monitor further reporting from Gerard Romero and official club statements for confirmations.
KEY FACTS
- Viktor Gyokeres scored 21 goals for Arsenal across all competitions last season.
- Ferran Torres has moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint‑Germain.
- Journalist Gerard Romero reported Barcelona are tracking Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus.
- Kai Havertz is described as Arsenal’s first‑choice striker; Gabriel Jesus is listed as third‑choice.
- Barcelona have signed Anthony Gordon and Rodri this summer.
- The 2026 summer transfer window closes on September 1.