As Portuguese newspaper Record today features a story about the 25 goals that Sporting star Pedro Gonçalves got involved in this season, they highlight the interest from Aston Villa.
According to the outlet, Unai Emery’s side have ‘decided’ to go for the signing.
It’s said that when Sporting went to face Arsenal in London this week, Aston Villa were ‘attentive’ to his performance there.
Record claims the Villans already had ‘positive’ reports about the ‘superb’ winger, and this game now convinced them of going for the transfer.
The player is protected by a €80m release clause, and the newspaper says Sporting are not under any ‘pressure’ to sell, especially because 50% of his price will be going to his former club Famalicão.
That only makes it unlikely that the Lions will make big discounts for his departure, suggesting the clause is the lowest they’ll let him go for.
It’s said the Lisbon side could ‘even try’ to find a deal with Famalicão to buy those 50% until the end of the season, but there’s little chance they could succeed.
Gonçalves, who’s better known in Portugal as Pote, has 17 goals and nine assists this season, which is exactly why Aston Villa will want him in their squad next season.
