Why a Vinícius Júnior signing might confirm Viktor Gyokeres' future at Arsenal

Arsenal are not currently in the race to sign Julián Álvarez because their focus, at this moment, is on signing Vinícius Júnior.

This is according to a report from Mundo Deportivo, which talked at length about Julián Álvarez's situation at Atlético Madrid.

It is common knowledge that the player wants Barcelona, but Atlético Madrid do not want to sell their best player to a direct rival, which means Barcelona would have to trigger a release clause worth €500 million.

Obviously, Barcelona wouldn't do that because no one will spend €500 million on a player in the near future.

The report claims that Arsenal are one of the few remaining options for Julián Álvarez to leave Atlético, but they are currently focused on Vinícius Júnior.

Arsenal won't move on from Viktor Gyokeres if they spend so much on Vinícius Júnior this summer

Arteta also confirmed again, after the win over Girona on the weekend, that Viktor Gyökeres, who had been suggested could be used as a makeweight, is definitely in the Spaniard's plans at Arsenal next season.

Obviously, Arteta would say that about Gyökeres either way because he is a striker who was only signed one year ago by the Gunners. Even if Arteta was planning on moving on from Gyökeres, he wouldn't come out and say it publicly.

But as the report clearly says, Arsenal are focused on signing Vinícius Júnior instead of Álvarez, and if that is the case, it could definitely confirm Gyökeres' future, at least for another couple of seasons.

If they do sign the Brazilian, that would mean they have spent the biggest chunk of their money. That would also mean they would no longer have a transfer budget large enough to meet what Atlético Madrid would want for Álvarez, meaning Gyökeres would get another season to prove that he is worth keeping around.

Gyökeres did have a better ending to his first season in the Premier League, as he scored 21 goals in all competitions. Obviously, that number would be better off improving, but for that, he will get another chance, according to the report.

The same article also reports that Atlético's plan is for Álvarez to stay for at least one more year, which either way takes away the possibility of Arsenal signing the Argentinian instead.

It will be unlikely to see Arsenal go for yet another superstar next season if they sign Vinícius Júnior this year. That would simply require too much spending, and they would also have to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.

So, unless they go for another striker who is not Álvarez next season, it looks like Gyökeres will be staying in north London for at least a couple more years.

Obviously, this is just an opinion, and things could change in a matter of hours, days, weeks, or months. Gyökeres is still a part of Arsenal's project, according to this report.

According to what Arteta said after the match against Girona, and if Arsenal are looking to sign Vinícius Júnior, they probably will not be signing Julián Álvarez.

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