Aston Villa have ‘advanced with approaches’ for Sporting Club de Portugal star Pedro Gonçalves and ‘insist’ on making the signing this summer.
That’s according to A Bola, who say Unai Emery’s side are yet to make a ‘concrete proposal’ to the Portuguese club, who will demand his €80m release clause is paid.
The newspaper explains that Aston Villa have ‘closely followed’ several Sporting players this season and Gonçalves is one of the names they’ve added to their shopping list.
There is an ‘insistence’ at Villa Park that they secure his signature this summer and they have already ‘advanced with approaches’ to understand the conditions for a transfer.
Sporting are remaining ‘intransigent’ on this front and have pointed to the player’s termination clause of €80m to any of his suitors.
They’re protected by that clause and the fact his current contract runs until 2026 after the player renewed his deal in 2021, a contract which put him among the highest earners in Sporting’s squad.
Sporting actually only own 50% of the player’s transfer rights, hence their desire to get as much as possible for the player to ensure ‘a real jackpot’ for the club.
Whether Aston Villa would pay €80m, or even have the funds available to do such a deal in what is likely to be a busy summer under Emery, isn’t mentioned.
They’re in the mix for Gonçalves nonetheless and Sporting are expecting ‘official offers’ to arrive between now and the end of the window.
