Aston Villa reportedly have been handed a potential transfer boost as Sporting are said to be considering a potential replacement for our transfer target Pedro Goncalves.
The 24-year-old has emerged as one of the top prospects in Europe in recent seasons, and he’s enjoying another productive campaign this year with 17 goals and nine assists in 39 appearances across all competitions.
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That’s now 55 goals and 28 assists in 117 total appearances for Sporting since he joined them in August 2020, and so not only is the quality evident, but the consistency is there too.
Amid ongoing speculation pairing us with interest in the Portuguese international, there has been another development touted in Portugal that could be an important factor in our reported pursuit.
According to O Jogo, Sporting are looking at Ivan Jaime from Famalicao as a potential signing this summer, and it’s suggested that could be with the view that they are preparing to lose Goncalves, who has been heavily linked with Villa in recent weeks.
As per A Bola, Goncalves has an €80m release clause in his current contract, but it’s been suggested that there is a possibility that Villa could get a deal done for around €40m-€50m, with Sporting in talks with Famalicao to acquire their share of the player’s rights which entitles them to part of any future transfer fee.
In turn, should the Portuguese giants move for Jaime, that could open the discussion up about Goncalves, and if that situation is clarified and sorted out ahead of the summer transfer window, it could open up a key change in Sporting’s decision on whether or not to sell.
Goncalves has shown his technical quality, creative ability and eye for goal across several seasons now, and he’d be an excellent addition to the Villa squad, if a deal can be done.
He would continue to help develop our identity and style of play under Emery with his ability to control possession and unlock defences as well as offer a direct goal threat himself, and so time will tell if we can make a marquee signing this summer of this level.