It's no secret to anyone that FC Barcelona, among the various options it is considering to strengthen its attack for the future, seems to have a high regard for the name of Viktor Gyökeres, the 'killer' of Sporting Club de Portugal. Currently, he has stood out as one of the top goal scorers in Europe and is one of the most sought-after footballers by several major clubs on the continent. He is considered a true 'predator' in the box, with a consistently rising level that he has maintained over time.
However, it's evident that acquiring a striker of such caliber won't be easy. Sporting Club, aware that they possess one of the most valuable players in the market, has set a significantly high release clause, around 100 million euros, a sum they firmly hold onto, offering limited room for negotiation for a transfer at a lower price.
Is selling Viktor Gyökeres in January a real option for Sporting Club?
What seems more feasible for Sporting Club is the option of letting go of their star striker in the upcoming winter transfer window. At least that's what the club president, Frederico Varandas, suggested in a statement to the Portuguese media 'RTP', where he noted that while the departure of Viktor Gyökeres in January is a complex idea to tackle, this option is not entirely ruled out.
"It's very, very difficult. Nothing is impossible in life, so I can't say that... but I would say it's very, very difficult and complicated," expressed Varandas.
Despite this, it seems unlikely that the transfer of Viktor Gyökeres will materialize in this winter market. However, it's an option that cannot be completely ruled out, as the 27-year-old forward has attracted the interest of several 'giants' of the Premier League such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City, thanks to his impressive 12 goals and four assists in just 12 matches of the current 2024-25 season.
This scenario would complicate Barcelona's potential interest in the Swedish striker
Furthermore, if a transfer in this winter market is considered, FC Barcelona would most likely be excluded from the operation. All indications were that the interest of the Catalan club was more focused on adding the Swedish striker for the summer of 2025 or even 2026, possibly as a successor to Robert Lewandowski, who has shown he still has a high level by tallying 14 goals and 2 assists in 12 matches so far, remaining in the conversation as one of the best '9s' in the world.
Moreover, Barcelona, currently showing good form, appears reluctant to make significant investments in this winter market, whether for Viktor Gyökeres or another star signing. Therefore, if the Swedish striker were to depart from Sporting Club this winter, it would be challenging for Barça to show interest, considering they also have other attractive options in mind like Alexander Isak, Darwin Núñez, and the most complex of all, Erling Haaland.