Aston Villa Are Long-Term Admirers Of This Gifted Winger: What Will He Add To Emery’s Team? | OneFootball

In a recent print edition, Record stated that Aston Villa are long-term admirers of Sporting CP winger Pedro Goncalves. It is understood that the Villans could face competition in the form of West Ham United in pursuit of the Portuguese wide player this summer.

Goncalves’ Impressive Record In Portuguese Football This Season

Goncalves is having a productive campaign at the Portuguese club and deserves credit for putting in a lot of match-winning performances for them on the right flank. The 25-year-old has scored 16 times and grabbed 14 assists in 40 matches for Sporting this season across various competitions.

The Portuguese talent has been a good performer in the final third as he is averaging 3.0 shots, 2.1 key passes, 1.8 crosses and 1.0 dribbles per 90 minutes in Liga Portugal. He has even been accurate when interchanging possession with his teammates after making 80% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).

Goncalves is under contract at Sporting until the summer of 2027. Thus, it won’t be easy for the Villans to arrange a cut-price move for him at the end of this season.

Sporting’s Portuguese midfielder #8 Pedro Goncalves claps during the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 4 group D football match between Sporting Lisbon and Rakow Czestochowa at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, on November 9, 2023. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)

What Will Goncalves Add To Aston Villa Boss Unai Emery’s Team?

Goncalves is a good dribbler with the ball and can make some penetrative runs with the ball out on the flanks. He can strike the ball purely and with venom from long range and can create a few decent plays for others around him in the final third.

The Chaves-born sensation is primarily a right-winger but can also function as a left-sided wide player or play in the number ten position if asked to do so. We can expect Goncalves to add more firepower to Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery’s frontline.

Goncalves has what it takes to compete for a regular starting spot at Villa Park next season as long as he can make a smooth transition to life in England. At 25, he has his best years ahead of him. Plus, the Portuguese talent could help the Villans challenge for a top-four finish in the Premier League once again in the coming years. Therefore, Aston Villa should focus on getting a deal done for the Sporting star in the summer transfer period.