Arsenal may be heading towards one of the most awkward transfer subplots of the coming window, with Viktor Gyokeres increasingly unsettled and a January move now described as a genuine possibility. According to TeamTalk, the Sweden international is prepared to reassess his future after a rapid change in standing under Mikel Arteta.

The striking part of this developing story is the speed of the shift. Gyokeres arrived from Sporting CP in 2025 amid significant expectation, after Arsenal chose him ahead of Benjamin Sesko. He then delivered in a major way, scoring 21 goals in all competitions, including 14 in the Premier League, and playing his part in a title-winning season as well as a run to the Champions League final.

That return should have strengthened his place. Instead, the current picture appears very different. TeamTalk states that “Viktor Gyokeres is ready to quit Arsenal and is set to push for a January exit”, a line that underlines the seriousness of the situation. The report adds that frustration over his minutes is central, with the striker “yet to start a Premier League game this season”.

Premier League starts at centre of Arsenal concern

From the player’s perspective, the issue seems straightforward. A striker of Gyokeres’ profile and age does not want to drift through the first half of a season waiting for opportunities. Sources cited in the report say “his lack of opportunities is the main reason he is now looking towards the exit door”, and there is little ambiguity in that.

Arsenal’s internal thinking may be more layered. Kai Havertz is “currently the preferred option”, while long-term admiration for Julian Alvarez remains active in the background. The report notes that Arsenal’s pursuit of Alvarez over the summer was “a development that could not be ignored by Gyokeres and his camp”. For a centre-forward already fighting for starts, that pursuit naturally sends a message, whether intended or not.

It is also notable that Arsenal are said to be open to doing more business in attack. TeamTalk reports that the club “could be prepared to consider allowing Gyokeres to leave as they continue pushing ahead with plans to bring in another forward”. If that proves accurate, this is no longer a story about one unhappy player alone. It becomes a structural squad decision.

Julian Alvarez interest adds to transfer pressure

Arsenal “remain hugely keen on Alvarez”, according to the report, and that ongoing interest appears to be one of the two key drivers behind Gyokeres’ current stance, along with the absence of Premier League starts. In practical terms, a striker can accept competition. What becomes harder to accept is the sense that the club may already be planning for somebody else to lead the line.

That is why this situation feels significant. Arsenal “spent months doing their homework on Gyokeres” before completing the move, and Arteta had been clear in wanting him in north London. For that level of planning to lead to this uncertainty little more than a year later would raise fair questions over recruitment alignment and squad planning.

Gyokeres has done his part internationally, too. He “continues to score regularly for Sweden and struck four goals during the recent Nations League international break”. That form only sharpens the player’s likely belief that he should be starting more often at club level.

Atletico Madrid and Europe monitoring Gyokeres situation

As for the market, Atletico Madrid remain firmly in the frame. TeamTalk says the Spanish club’s interest was discussed directly with Arsenal during meetings involving Andrea Berta in the summer. There is also mention of interest from the Premier League, Italy and Germany, suggesting this is not a case of one option or nothing.

Crucially, the pieces do appear to fit. The report says “with the player open to a departure and the club still keen to strengthen their attacking options, a January separation could suit both parties”. That may ultimately be the clearest line in the entire update. If both sides see logic in a split, the coming months could be about shaping the right deal rather than preventing an exit.

Arsenal still have time to change the direction of this story. More starts, a clearer role and firmer communication would help. For now, though, Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal and a possible January transfer are moving into a space worth watching very closely.

Our View

From an Arsenal supporter’s perspective, this is deeply frustrating because it feels like a familiar problem of our own making. We signed a striker with pedigree, backed him after a long process, watched him score 21 goals in a huge season, then somehow reached a point where “the striker is yet to start a Premier League game this season”. That is hard to defend.

If the report is accurate, the most annoying part is the mixed messaging. You cannot push for a player, pick him ahead of other targets, celebrate the decision, then spend the next window chasing another elite forward and expect there to be no consequences. Of course Gyokeres and his camp would question where he stands. Any player would.

There is also a bigger concern for Arsenal here. Elite clubs need strong competition, but they also need clarity. If Kai Havertz is the preferred option, say it through selection. If Gyokeres is genuinely valued, use him properly. Letting a proven goalscorer slide towards the exit after one strong season would feel wasteful and short-sighted.

Supporters will rightly ask why a player who helped deliver the title now seems expendable so quickly. If Arsenal sell in January and then spend heavily again, it will look like another expensive correction rather than a clear plan. That is the part fans will struggle with most.