Gyokeres hints at next club as he seeks to emulate two idols

Tom Weber

Updated: 9 Dec 2024 16:46 GMT
4 min read

Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting CP, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Manchester United and Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres has named two former Red Devils players as his footballing idols.

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The Sporting CP sharpshooter continues to be one of the most talked-about players in European football. Gyokeres' outstanding performances for the Portuguese giants have made him arguably the continent's most sought-after commodity.

A summer transfer appears all but guaranteed at this point and Sporting's horrendous run of results following the departure of head coach Ruben Amorim is said to have left the player anything but satisfied.

Reports emerging from Portugal early on Monday suggested that Gyokeres is growing increasingly frustrated with Sporting's marked decline in performance levels since Amorim's exit.

While a January move is still unlikely, his suitors, chief among them Arsenal and Man Utd, will be keenly watching developments in Lisbon over the coming weeks.

Gyokeres reveals his idols

There have been conflicting reports as to who is currently the most likely side to land Gyokeres' signature but there has been talk from reliable transfer insiders that has suggested that the player already has a 'preference' regarding his next club.

Prior to Amorim's arrival at Man Utd, it was claimed that the Red Devils stood little chance of signing the Swede but this assertion has now been turned on its head, with Old Trafford looking an increasingly likely destination for him.

And Gyokeres, in revealing his footballing idols, may have inadvertently boosted Man Utd's hope of landing one of Europe's most reliable goalscorers.

Speaking to UEFA's media department ahead of Sporting CP's Champions League clash with Club Brugge, the Swede expressed his admiration for former Man Utd stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"The players who inspire me are Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo," he said. "Because of the way they behave on the pitch. They went above and beyond what was expected, that's what impressed me. I want to do similar things on the pitch.

"In today's football, you need to be physically strong, have the talent to score goals, communicate and combine well with other teammates. My three best qualities are my physicality, my finishing and often being in the right place to score.

“When you receive negative criticism, you have to try not to take it too seriously, we shouldn’t rush when we’re doing well and we shouldn’t let ourselves get down when things aren’t going so well.

He added: "If I were to give one piece of advice to other forwards it would be: Don't compare yourself to others, it doesn't matter if you're playing for a big club at the same age, you should keep working and focus only on yourself. Time flies if you do things well."