Arsenal BLOW as Barcelona choose Lewandowski replacement

Carlo Garganese

• 10 Sept 2024 09:30 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal have received a blow with the news that Barcelona have chosen Viktor Gyokeres as their ideal replacement for Robert Lewandowski.

Barcelona plan to replace Lewandowski as their first-choice striker at the end of the season as the Poland legend is now 36.

And, according to Fichajes, Barcelona chiefs have decided that Sporting Lisbon star Gyokeres is the perfect successor.

READ MORE: Arsenal top scorers 2024/25

Gyokeres will not come cheap as he has a €100 million release clause in his contract and is valued at €70m at least by Sporting.

But Barca believe they will be in a position next summer to once again pay big transfer fees.

The news comes as a blow to Arsenal, who have been chasing Gyokeres for several months.

Arsenal turned to Gyokeres this summer after missing out on first target Benjamin Sesko but could not agree on a transfer fee with Sporting.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer news

Gyokeres has made an incredible start to the new season, already scoring 10 goals and making five assists in all competitions for club and country.

This follows on from his brilliant form from last season for Sporting.

Gyokeres in 2023-24

Gyokeres scored a sensational 43 goals in 50 games in all competitions for Portuguese champions Sporting this past season.

His 29 league goals meant he finished the season as Primeira Liga top scorer.

Gyokeres has been a revelation ever since joining Sporting Lisbon from Coventry for €20 million plus €4m in bonuses last summer

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that Gyokeres can bring the team the goals they have missed from the number nine position in the last two seasons.

Arteta has been forced to often use Kai Havertz in an unnatural striker role this past year.

While Gabriel Jesus has impressed over the last two years in his overall play, he has not proved to be prolific enough for a team who wants to win the Premier League and challenge for the Champions League.

Jesus has just 19 goals in 70 appearances for Arsenal, a total that Gyokeres more than doubled last season alone for Sporting Lisbon.