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The Viktor Gyokeres saga rumbles on (Picture: Getty Images)
The race for Viktor Gyokeres’ signature continues but one contender appears to have withdrawn from the running as Barcelona declare they are not looking for a striker.
The Sporting forward is expected to make a big move this summer, with plenty of interest in him after a brilliant two seasons in Portgual.
Since joining from Coventry in 2023 the Swede has scored an incredible 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting across all competitions.
The 26-year-old has won back-to-back Primeira Liga titles and his individual exploits have unsurprisingly seen him linked with bigger clubs in bigger leagues.
Arsenal and Manchester United are among those interested parties, while the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Juventus and Napoli have been touted as possible destinations for him as well.
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Barcelona were also believed to be looking at the Sweden international, but apparently that is not the case.
Deco, Barca’s sporting director, says that a number nine is not a priority for the club this summer, with Robert Lewandowski still the main man up front.
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Deco does not intend to battle it out for Gyokeres this summer (Picture: Getty Images)
‘Gyokeres is a great striker who did excellent things at Sporting but we’re currently not looking for that position,’ Deco said, via A Bola.
‘We have Lewandowski at number nine.’
That will come as a boost for the rest of the chasing pack, but Gyokeres’ future is only marginally clearer now Barcelona have exited the race.
Reports suggest that Arsenal have already put forward a proposal to sign the striker, while Chelsea and Juventus have also made approaches.
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Gyokeres has won consecutive league titles in Portugal (Picture: Getty Images)
Napoli have emerged as contenders as well, after winning Serie A, with Antonio Conte keen to add the Swede to his squad.
Manchester United will hope that manager Ruben Amorim can help tempt Gyokeres to Old Trafford after they worked together at Sporting last season and the first part of this campaign.
The bookmakers appear somewhat flummoxed over his next move, with some making Arsenal odds-on to sign Gyokeres this summer, while others make Manchester United favourites and Liverpool are even shortest priced in some places.
The man himself shed little light on the situation when he spoke last month after Sporting clinched the league title.
‘It’s football, I’m still here. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Nobody can predict the future,’ he told Sport TV.
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Gyokeres has plenty of options in front of him (Picture: Getty Images)
Arsenal have reportedly approached Sporting Lisbon with a proposal worth £58m and are ready to make Gyokeres one of the highest-paid players at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are also considering a move for Benjamin Sesko, although the RB Leipzig forward could cost almost £100m.
Sporting will be hoping to drive the price up, while the striker is in a fabulous position to negotiate an enormous contract for himself given the level of interest.
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