Barcelona tipped to use Vitor Roque in swap deal for Europe’s most in-demand striker

La Liga giants Barcelona have this weekend been tipped to launch what would be an audacious swoop for one of the continent’s leading strikers.

The player in question? Viktor Gyökeres.

Frontman Gyökeres is for his part in the midst of nothing short of a spectacular start to the new campaign.

All told, in 16 appearances across all competitions, the Swedish international has directly contributed to a whopping 24 goals.

Such remarkable exploits, following on from a brilliant debut campaign for Gyökeres in Portugal, have seen the Sporting CP standout make his way onto the radar of a number of leading European clubs.

And as alluded to above, this weekend, the latest outfit to have been tipped to launch a move for the 26-year-old come in the form of Barcelona.

The Camp Nou brass are understood to be on the lookout for a long-term replacement for the aging Robert Lewandowski.

And, according to Mundo Deportivo, citing Portuguese sources, Gyökeres has emerged as a leading target.

Not only that, but the Blaugrana are labelled as having ‘an ace up their sleeve’, in the form of Vitor Roque.

Sporting expressed a keen interest in striker Roque’s services this past summer, prior to his eventual loan move to Barca’s La Liga rivals, Real Betis.

And, as per A Bola, Deco and co. could in turn attempt to use the Brazilian to bring Gyökeres’ big-money price-tag down to a more affordable figure.

Conor Laird – GSFN