According to a report by A Bola, as relayed by Sport Witness, Pedro Goncalves is the subject of interest from Aston Villa. The Villans are keen on reinforcing their offensive unit by signing a versatile attacker in the summer transfer window. However, the West Midlands outfit will face stiff competition from Bayer Leverkusen for the 27-year-old Sporting CP attacker’s signature.
The latest report has revealed that Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen are “very attentive” to his situation heading into the summer. However, it is unclear how much the former Famalicao playmaker will cost in the coming months, even though he has a release clause worth €80 million in his contract with Sporting CP.
Pedro Goncalves, also known as Pote, has been among the most impressive players in the Primeira Liga since joining Sporting CP from Famalicao in August 2020. Born in Chaves, the 27-year-old spent his formative years in Portugal, Spain, and England, and he consequently went under the radar during his youth career. However, the player rose in prominence during his spell with Famalicao.
The Portuguese international has enjoyed a solid 2025/26 campaign thus far, scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists in 29 appearances across all competitions. Meanwhile, the Sporting CP attacker’s stock has been high for a long time, with Aston Villa among his prospective suitors in recent years.
Pedro Goncalves has been on Aston Villa’s radar for a long time. The continued interest makes sense, as Unai Emery wants more firepower in the final third. The West Midlands club’s lack of offensive output has troubled them in the recent frustrating run, and they have been over-dependent on Morgan Rogers in the advanced areas.
So, with speculation surrounding Rogers growing exponentially in recent weeks, Aston Villa must dip into the market for a long-term replacement. Even if the English international remains at Villa Park, the Villans must bolster their offensive unit, as Jadon Sancho will unlikely complete a permanent move after his loan deal ends.
However, while Pote has a release clause worth €80 million in his contract with Sporting CP, it is unclear if suitors are ready to pay that much to secure his services. Bayer Leverkusen failed with a bid worth €30 million last summer, and they did not submit an improved offer. So, an update on his price tag will be crucial to this story as Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen chase the 27-year-old Portuguese international.
