For weeks, Viktor Gyökeres was a name on Barcelona’s table. His profile was appealing: a powerful No. 9, a natural goalscorer, young, and with recent experience in European football. But now, the move is officially off. According to Sport, the club has ruled out signing the Swedish striker, mainly due to financial reasons.

At 26, Gyökeres has been one of the breakout stars of the transfer market. His impressive tally of 54 goals in 52 games with Sporting CP caught the attention of several top clubs — including Barça. However, the Portuguese side’s asking price, close to €80 million, led the Catalan club to step away from the deal.

Not a priority for Flick

Beyond the high cost, there's another key factor: Hansi Flick. The German coach, already working with the squad during preseason, didn’t view Gyökeres as a top target. His idea for reinforcing the attack leans toward different profiles, and for now, he trusts Lewandowski to lead the line for at least another season.

Barça is also prioritizing other operations and managing its resources carefully due to ongoing financial constraints. With multiple fronts open — including the potential signing of a defensive midfielder and outgoing transfers — splashing out on a striker at that price was simply not feasible.

Gyökeres now heading to the Premier League

With Barcelona out of the race, Gyökeres looks set to move to the Premier League. Arsenal have stepped up negotiations and reportedly have agreements in place with both the player and Sporting. The deal, which could reach €80 million including add-ons, is expected to be finalized in the coming hours.

Barça’s dream of signing the Swedish striker is over… but the Gyökeres saga lives on — just in another language, and another league.