Barcelona preparing move for Viktor Gyokeres
August 18, 2026 03:28
Reports from El Chiringuito TV, cited by EyeFootball, say Barcelona are considering a move for Arsenal forward Viktor Gyökeres. The story adds that the Catalan club could submit a formal offer in the coming days.
The reported interest comes after Barcelona's recent departures in attack — Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski — which the piece frames as leaving a notable gap at centre-forward ahead of the new season.
KEY CONTEXT
- Ferran Torres left Barcelona after a season in which he scored 21 goals in all competitions, according to the report.
- Gyökeres was previously linked with Barcelona last year and has been used primarily as a backup to Kai Havertz at Arsenal more recently, putting his future with the club in doubt.
- Arsenal are said to have shown interest in Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen; that potential incoming move is reported as a factor that could allow Gyökeres to leave.
- The piece notes Arsenal paid £64m for Gyökeres last summer and would likely seek to recover a substantial portion of that fee.
WHY IT MATTERS
If the reported interest is formalised, Barcelona would be addressing a clear vacancy in their striking ranks following the exits of Torres and Lewandowski. For Arsenal, a sale would be tied to their own recruitment plans — signing another striker could open the door to recouping last season’s outlay on Gyökeres. The fee expected by Arsenal will be a key element in any negotiations.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether Barcelona actually submits an offer and the size of any bid, as the report says one may arrive in the next few days.
- Whether Arsenal progress with reported interest in Victor Osimhen and how that affects Gyökeres’s standing.
- Whether Arsenal demand a fee near the £64m they paid last summer and whether Barcelona are willing to meet it.
- The summer transfer window deadline of September 1, 2026, which frames the timeline for any deal.
KEY FACTS
- Source: report on El Chiringuito TV, cited by EyeFootball (17 Aug 2026).
- Barcelona are reportedly considering a move for Arsenal forward Viktor Gyökeres.
- Ferran Torres scored 21 goals for Barcelona last season and has since left the club; Robert Lewandowski has also departed.
- Gyökeres has recently been behind Kai Havertz in Arsenal’s pecking order.
- Arsenal paid £64m for Gyökeres last summer and would likely want to regain a substantial fee.
- The transfer window closes on September 1, 2026.