Sporting Lisbon forward Viktor Gyökeres has given yet another clue about his preferred future destination amid ongoing interest from Premier League giants Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool.
The former Coventry City striker is widely expected to depart Sporting this summer after two impressive seasons, with speculation intensifying following his remarkable goal-scoring record. Gyökeres netted a staggering 39 goals in the Portuguese league this season, along with six in the Champions League — including a hat-trick against Manchester City during the group stage.
A move back to England appears to be on the cards, with Arsenal and Manchester United reportedly leading the chase. Arsenal are especially keen to strengthen their striker options, while United are currently prioritizing a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, having already triggered Matheus Cunha’s £62.5 million release clause from Wolves.
In a recent interview with Vogue Scandinavia, Gyökeres discussed the differences between life in Portugal, England, and his native Sweden — comments that seemed to subtly reveal his preference for remaining in a warmer climate.
“In Sweden, people work hard during the week and socialize only on weekends,” he noted. “Here, life is more vibrant during the week — dinners with friends, a glass of wine on a Monday. I like that. After living in a warm country, going back to a colder one would be difficult.”
When asked about the rumors connecting him to English clubs, the 27-year-old brushed them off as media speculation: “Clickbait. These days, sports news is non-stop, so they create stories to keep the cycle going.”
Beyond England, Gyökeres has also been linked with a potential move to Spain and Barcelona. However, Barca’s sporting director Deco dismissed those rumors, stating that the club is not looking for a striker at the moment, as Robert Lewandowski is still under contract.
“He’s a fantastic player who has scored a lot for Sporting recently,” Deco told A Bola. “But we’re not in the market for a number nine right now. Lewandowski is still our main striker.”
Lewandowski, 36, has one year remaining on his Barcelona contract and scored 27 goals this season as the club reclaimed the La Liga title under new manager Hansi Flick.