Barcelona were well-positioned to sign most in-demand forward in January but walked away for one reason | OneFootball

According to an update shared by SPORT, Barcelona were seriously considering a move for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres earlier this year.

In fact, in January, sporting director Deco made an inquiry to understand the feasibility of the deal. However, by March, the club had shifted their focus to bringing in a left winger, and the pursuit of Gyokeres was officially ruled out.

Barcelona’s interest in Gyokeres was linked to concerns over their centre-forward options. Robert Lewandowski’s age and the fact that Ferran Torres, despite his solid performances, is not a natural striker led to internal discussions at the club.

Initial interest based on squad needs

Some voices within the camp felt that a new striker was needed more than a winger. This was when Deco initiated contact with Sporting, exploring how a deal for Gyokeres could be structured.

Interestingly, Barcelona were actually in a good position to negotiate with Sporting. One of their main advantages was their ownership of 40% of Francisco Trincao’s future sale, which could have helped reduce the transfer fee.

Barcelona were very well positioned to sign Viktor Gyokeres. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

At the time, Sporting were valuing Gyokeres at around €70 million. But as interest in the striker grew across Europe, especially from Premier League clubs, the player became increasingly likely to move to the highest bidder.

Final decision to prioritise a winger

By March, Barcelona made their stance clear. They informed Sporting that they would not be pursuing the Swedish forward and instead would target a left winger.

This is when the club’s attention fully turned to Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, who is now reportedly close to joining the Catalan giants.

While Barcelona were once well-positioned in the Gyokeres talks, especially with Sporting rather than the player, the competitive bidding and change in transfer strategy led them to walk away.

The focus is now firmly on strengthening the flanks, as Hansi Flick prepares for a tactical reshuffle in the upcoming season.