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Robert Lewandowski has expressed doubts about Viktor Gyokeres’ ability to replace him as Barcelona’s main striker, casting a shadow over Arsenal’s interest in the Swedish forward. As the summer transfer window approaches, Arsenal is among several clubs considering a move for Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals last season. Despite a reported verbal agreement with Sporting CP that could see him sold for less than his £84m release clause, Lewandowski’s comments suggest skepticism about Gyokeres’ consistency at the highest level.
Robert Lewandowski said: “I haven’t seen many players who have played more than two or three years at full strength and scored more than 40 goals. That’s why I think the level of goals has dropped a bit, as we saw last season. It’s not easy to find a player like that these days.”
Lewandowski continued: “I think the club has other players, but in the end, you need a perfect solution — for the signing, for the coach, and for the system. Finding a goal-scoring striker isn’t easy in football these days. There aren’t many top strikers around. It’s hard to find someone who fits the team, the system, and the budget.”
He concluded: “In football, right now, finding a striker is not easy.”
Lewandowski’s remarks come as Gyokeres, now 26 and entering his prime, is linked with a move to a top European club. The Swedish international has been prolific in recent seasons, with 119 goals across his last three seasons in the Championship and Primera Liga. However, his experience outside Europe’s traditional top-five leagues might raise questions about his readiness for a club like Barcelona or Arsenal. Gyokeres’ closest competition in terms of recent goal-scoring is Harry Kane, who has netted 92 times since the 2022/23 season. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is another forward under Arsenal’s radar as they plan for the future.
Lewandowski’s opinion carries significant weight given his own impressive career statistics, including 610 goals in 823 matches and the best goals-per-minute ratio in Bundesliga history. While his comments may not deter potential suitors, they highlight the challenges clubs face in finding a striker who can seamlessly integrate into their system and meet high expectations.
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