Viktor Gyokeres is fully focused on starting the new Premier League season with Arsenal amid speculation he has been added to Barcelona’s transfer wishlist.
The Catalan giants have spent much of the summer trying to engineer a deal to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.
Their Spanish rivals, however, have made clear they have no intention of parting company with their prize asset.
Alvarez missed Atletico’s win over Malaga last night but manager Diego Simeone had already revealed the Argentina international is still building up his fitness following his exploits with his country at the World Cup.
‘We were talking as we always do, and I understand that he still needs a little more time to be in top form for Sunday,’ said Simeone.
‘He needs more training. He’s our best player, and we’re going to try to build a team around him, keeping his age group in mind.’
With Barcelona ready to admit defeat, Hansi Flick has been forced to consider alternative targets with Sporting Lisbon’s past and current strikers said to be on their radar.
Gyokeres only joined the Gunners from the Portuguese champions last summer while his replacement, Luis Suarez, enjoyed a prolific campaign having moved from Almeria.
The Sweden international, meanwhile, is set to begin the new campaign on the bench if last season’s Community Shield is anything to go by, given Kai Havertz began up front and impressed with a goal and his all-round display.
Gyokeres, however, is looking forward to making an impact against Coventry City, one of his former clubs and is ready to fight for his place.
‘I’m looking forward a lot, it’s going to be nice to start a league campaign again and to start against my old club,’ Gyokeres told talkSPORT.
‘It’s a great way to start at home so I’m looking forward to it.
‘I haven’t played against them so of course it’s going to be nice to see a few of them that are still there and meet the fans as well.’
With nearly all their main rivals changing managers and undergoing rebuilds this summer, Arsenal have been installed as the clear and early favourites to retain their title in 2026/27.
But Gyokeres does not believe his team have gone from ‘the hunters to the hunted’, and insists anything can happen this season: ‘Everyone starts on zero points.
‘Everyone’s going to play the same amount of games. So, we have to do it all over again.
‘We don’t have to defend it, we just have to win as many games as we can and then hopefully, we’ll be there in the end again.’
