It’s been a while since the rumours linking Sporting winger Pedro Gonçalves to Aston Villa started fading away, and the Portuguese media shows up today to really put an end to this story.
Portuguese newspaper Record today features a piece about all the players Sporting are willing to give a new contract too, and their star is obviously included there.
It’s pointed out that Aston Villa had Pote as a target, but the price demanded by Sporting made the transfer ‘unfeasible, at least for this transfer market’.
Since the departure of Manuel Ugarte this summer, Lions president Frederico Varandas made it public that the other players in the squad would only leave if their release clause was triggered. In the winger’s case, that would mean a €80m price tag.
According to Record, Aston Villa only wanted to spend up to €45m, and that ends any chances of a deal between the clubs this summer.Sporting now plan to give Pote a higher salary. He currently makes €750k per season, and given his importance at the club, they’ll pay him their top wages.
Therefore, Aston Villa will have to wait a while longer if they want to sign the player.
