Romano: 'People already talking' about £55m Arsenal striker's future

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Viktor Gyokeres has yet to start a Premier League game for Arsenal this season, and talk about his long-term future at the Emirates has already begun.

The Sweden international arrived from Sporting CP last summer in a deal worth £55 million, with add-ons that could take the figure to £63.5m. He responded with 21 goals in 55 appearances across all competitions in his debut campaign, a season that ended with Arsenal lifting the Premier League title and reaching the Champions League final.

That output did not stop the criticism, and the 28-year-old's role has shrunk this term. Gyokeres has come off the bench late in two of Arsenal's five league fixtures and been an unused option in the other three.

A falling valuation

The reduced minutes have coincided with a slide in his market value. Transfermarkt had Gyokeres at €75m (£64.5m) shortly before his move to Arsenal, before dropping him to €70m (£60.2m) in December 2025 and then €65m (£55.9m) in May. The most recent update, in June, kept him at that same figure.

That amounts to a €10m (£8.6m) drop in little over a year for a player who was one of Europe's most prolific forwards in Portugal.

Romano on the 'top clubs' who were turned away

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano said there are "people already talking" about a possible move away from Arsenal next year, while indicating the club's current position is to keep him.

Romano, one of the most reliable operators in the transfer market, added that Arsenal rebuffed approaches from "top clubs" in Spain during the summer window, with Gyokeres deemed not for sale. The club, per the report, still expect him to be an important figure as the campaign develops.

The only scenario that would alter that, according to Romano, is the "right club with big money" arriving with an offer. For Arsenal to command the fee they would want, though, Gyokeres would need his form — and his valuation — to climb back up, which points towards the Gunners holding on to him.

Potter backs his striker

Gyokeres is currently on international duty with Sweden, where manager Graham Potter offered public support.

"Things happen. It goes up and down, just like it does in life," Potter said. "He is a Premier League winner. He scored many goals as a number nine for Arsenal. He was incredible in the qualifiers and also had a good World Cup."

The former Chelsea and Brighton boss added: "Players at this level will always get criticism at some point. But there is no problem here. We love Viktor. He enjoys being here. We will create the best conditions for him so that he can continue to be a top player."

With the international break set to give way to a congested run of domestic and European fixtures, Gyokeres will have chances to force his way back into Mikel Arteta's starting line-up and reverse the narrative that has built around him.