Aston Villa and Liverpool handed encouragement in chase for 154 G/A Portuguese star

Aston Villa and Liverpool have spent years watching Pedro Gonçalves tear up Portuguese back lines. Now, for the first time in a long while, Sporting appear genuinely ready to open the door.

And the timing suddenly feels dangerous for everyone else. Because Pedro Gonçalves has scored 13 goals in 26 league matches this season in Portugal.

He averages 3.74 shots per 90 minutes, and he scores once every 6.15 attempts. So he’s a killer from the left wing.

Add to that seven assists, 2.39 key passes per game and elite creative numbers, and it becomes easier to understand why Premier League interest has never properly disappeared.

Aston Villa and Liverpool long-term admirers

According to Jornal de Notícias, Sporting are now willing to negotiate if the right offer arrives this summer.

Villa and Liverpool are mentioned as the two English clubs that stand out most strongly around Pedro Gonçalves.

Both have followed the Sporting player for years. As we followed closely, speculation regarding Aston Villa is somewhat concrete since 2024, while Liverpool’s interest dates back to 2021. But both also have reasons to believe he could fit immediately into Premier League football.

Unai Emery values flexible attacking players capable of drifting between midfield and wide roles, while Liverpool’s recruitment team have consistently targeted productive forwards who combine goals with pressing intensity and creativity.

Pedro Gonçalves ticks all those boxes. He has produced 97 goals and 57 assists in 237 matches for Sporting since arriving in 2020. Those are elite numbers for someone who still spends large parts of matches operating outside the penalty area.

Even this season, despite physical problems during parts of the campaign, he still managed 15 goals and 8 assists across all competitions.

At 27, there is also a growing feeling in Portugal that this could be the ideal moment for both Sporting and the player to finally accept a major move abroad.

West Ham situation depends on survival

West Ham are also mentioned as long-term admirers of Pedro Gonçalves.

As we covered in recent years, the Hammers have tracked him for several seasons and have repeatedly appreciated his versatility and final-third productivity. However, any serious attempt to move this summer likely depends on their Premier League status.

That uncertainty naturally places clubs like Aston Villa and Liverpool in a stronger position if the situation accelerates.

Meanwhile, Sporting are already preparing for significant squad changes.

Midfielder Rodrigo Zalazar has arrived in a club-record €30m (£25.2m) move from Braga, while the Portuguese side continue working on deals for Venezia midfielder Issa Doumbia and dream of bringing Tottenham’s João Palhinha back.

Pedro Gonçalves still has a contract until 2030 and an €80m (£67.2m) release clause.

Still, the important detail is elsewhere now. Sporting are no longer aggressively shutting the conversation down. And after years of waiting, Aston Villa and Liverpool may finally sense an opening.