Deco reveals Barcelona’s stance on Manchester United and Arsenal’s £63m transfer target

Barcelona sporting director Deco says Viktor Gyokeres is ‘not a priority’ and the club have no immediate plans to pursue a big-money move for the Sporting sensation.

Gyokeres has established himself as one of the most sought-after strikers in European football thanks to his incredible goalscoring exploits over the last two seasons, with the 26-year-old netting 66 times in 68 appearances for Sporting.

A host of top Premier League clubs are understood to be keeping close tabs on Gyokeres’ performances, including Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City.

Recent reports emanating out of Germany suggested Bayern Munich had joined the race for the free-scoring attacker, despite already boasting a world-class centre-forward in England captain Harry Kane.

Gyokeres’ current release clause with Sporting stands at £83million, though it is believed the Primeira Liga champions could be willing to do business for as little as £63m next summer.

But despite the price drop, it appears Barca are not in the running for the Sweden international, with Deco telling Spanish publication: ‘He is a good player, he has been scoring goals for a long time in Portugal.

‘We know him like others but he is not a priority at the moment and we looking for a No.9 to replace Robert [Lewandowski] because we want him to remain happy, scoring goals and at least stay for another season.

‘We have won things and he is happy to be here. We are not going to talk about any player now.’

Barcelona have been tentatively linked with Erling Haaland in recent years, but Deco played down speculation that an audacious bid for Manchester City’s star striker could be in the works.

‘Firstly, we would have to know if Haaland is what we want in the future. We don’t know now. Right now we don’t want any No.9,’ he added.

‘We have Robert [Lewandowski]. We’re not planning anything with any No.9.

‘When the time comes to make a decision then I will have to make it because I’m the one at the club. We’ll consider the options. But I don’t think it’s the time to talk about any player.’

Gyokeres still has four years remaining on his current deal in Lisbon but Sporting are growing increasingly resigned to losing their prized possession at the end of the season.

Facing the media after Gyokeres’ stunning Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City, Ruben Amorim was asked whether he was interested in bringing the Swede with him to Manchester United.

‘I’ve just made peace with the Sporting fans, I’m not even going to make a joke about it, Amorim told Portuguese media.

‘Gyokeres is a Sporting player, which is a great club, he did a lot for it, he was in the second division, he just has to stay and finish the season.’

Asked the same question during a separate interview, Amorim replied: ‘No, no, no. I cannot be funny with that in this moment.

‘It was tough for me to leave, if I start joking about that with Gyokeres, I’ll have problems. This is my city, this is my country, I will respect.

‘Viktor has to stay until the end of the season and then his life is going, maybe, somewhere else.’

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