Sven-Goran Eriksson has rejected claims that he has turned down the chance to take over at Sporting and says he would be open to a return to Portugal.
The former Benfica boss is currently out of work after he was sacked by Mexico in April, and it appears he is eager to take over at a Premier League club amid reported interest from Portsmouth.
However, he has also been linked with Portuguese giants Sporting and, although it was claimed that he had rejected the chance to go to Lisbon, Eriksson says he is open to the switch but wants to wait until the club’s presidential election is concluded before making a decision.
“I will answer the questions about Sporting on Saturday or Sunday, after the election,” he told TVI.
“It is untrue that I have said no to Sporting or another team that contacted me, as was claimed [on Wednesday] in a Portuguese newspaper.
“At this point, I have no comments to make about my future.
“My only wish is to work in a club from next season and, yes, that could be in Portugal.”
It appears Eriksson now has no chance of heading to Fratton Park, meanwhile, as prospective new Pompey owner Sulaiman Al Fahim suggested he was not a contender.
"He is not on the shortlist, but nothing is finalised yet," he said.
Ahead of his flight to England for discussions on Friday, Al Fahim has dismissed suggestions he could turn his attentions to Newcastle.
He has also revealed that he is to discuss the future of caretaker boss Paul Hart and is already lining up transfer targets.
"I am meeting officials in Portsmouth, the manager and the coaches," he said.
"I will be the chairman of the club and there will be other board members.
"Before summer, we will close the deal.
"We are looking at hiring talented English players and I am interested in one United Arab Emirates national player who is very talented."