Pedro Gonçalves has been linked with Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa, for quite a while, and that’s thanks to his impressive performances for Sporting CP.
Last season, the 25-year-old scored 18 goals and added 17 assists to help Sporting win Liga Portugal. The previous season he scored 20 goals whilst contributing 15 assists, so it wasn’t a one off.
Gonçalves can play on the right, left or through the middle and has been versatile in that respect for Ruben Amorim. The manager wants to keep him, feeling he’s key, but financial pressures could eventually take over.
Previously, a move to Aston Villa felt difficult given the lack of Champions League football. That’s now changed.
Wednesday’s edition of O Jogo reports, in a full page article, that Villa ‘won’t let go’ of Pote (that’s what he’s often called in Portugal).
The Portuguese newspaper explains that those in charge at the Premier League club have come up with tactics to try and agree a deal.
The gist is they will wait, get their own financial house in order, and then move towards the end of the market. They’re trying to understand what is going on around the player, and using ‘market signals’ to do so, in order to pick the best time to move forward.
At that point, they’ll advance with an ‘attractive proposal’ for Sporting and the player.
Bayer Leverkusen are said to have offered €30m plus bonuses, but that was largely laughed off.
Pedro Gonçalves himself is said to be happy where he is, having enjoyed great success with Sporting. However, he’s aware he won’t be close to maximising his earning potential in Portugal and is therefore tempted by a move.
