As Portuguese newspaper A Bola today features a full-page story about Sporting star Pedro Gonçalves, they bring an interesting update on how Aston Villa’s chase for him is going.
It’s claimed that even though Unai Emery’s side are still ‘insisting’ on signing the 24-year-old, the Lions’ demands for his sale are holding them off.
Sporting’s stance is they will only let Pote go in case his €80m release clause is triggered, and at this stage Aston Villa would only like to spend around €40m.
Following the sale of Manuel Ugarte to Paris Saint Germain, the Portuguese club don’t feel the need to lose another star, and have no reason to negotiate his exit.
What theoretically plays on Aston Villa’s side is that they can offer Pote a much higher salary than what he has at Sporting.
That has some kind of impact on the player’s mindset, as he and his representatives believe he deserves a pay rise at the Lions, since he’s been standing out at the club for a few seasons now.
