Aston Villa set for fresh transfer frustration with £68m update set to scupper hopes of landmark signing
Aston Villa are expected to be in the market for a creative midfielder in January
Aston Villa’s chances of making a marquee January signing have been hit with a major blow after Pedro Gonçalves’ decision to extend his contract with Sporting CP until 2030.
Gonçalves, a Portuguese attacking midfielder, known as “Pote”, has enjoyed a sublime start to the new campaign with five goals and three assists from 11 matches so far across all competitions. It has resulted in him making his return to the national team squad in the run-up to the World Cup in 2026 and leaves him in a strong position to secure a place on the plane in North America if he can keep up his current high standards.
Gonçalves started his career at Wolves and played in the West Midlands between 2018 and 2019, but only featured once for the Old Gold across all competitions - appearing as a substitute in a 2-0 away victory against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup. However, he’s recently been linked with a return to England under Unai Emery at Villa Park, with the Spaniard looking to add further flair and quality to his team.
Why Aston Villa are set to miss out on Pedro Gonçalves in January
Aston Villa have been keeping tabs on Pedro Gonçalves for a number of years, with links going all the way back to 2023. The left-winger has long been regarded as one of the best players in Portuguese football but has only recently returned from a long-term muscle injury, which derailed a large chunk of his 2024/25 campaign.
The five-time international boasts an overall record of 87 goals and 60 assists from 209 matches for Sporting and was seen as an ideal target to help get the team firing on all cylinders, particularly after their earlier season struggles which had seen them fail to score in their opening four matches. However, Portuguese outlet O Jogo understands that Villa are now likely to cool their interest for the time being after Gonçalves decision to extend his contract in the capital.
“I’m happy, it’s always a proud moment to renew with the club of my heart. I’ve been feeling good here. I feel that everyone involved wants me to be part of the club’s history, and I’m very proud of that,” said Gonçalves via Sporting TV.
“We feel Sporting is a stable club. The stadium has changed, the Academy is being improved, a lot has changed. I can see the club growing, and that’s important. Sporting has to be one of the biggest clubs, not only in Portugal but also in Europe.”
Pedro Gonçalves new transfer valuation revealed
Based on reports in Portugal, Pedro Gonçalves is now valued at around 80 million euros, which equates to around £68m - putting him well above the reaches of Aston Villa’s current spending power.
German side Bayer Leverkusen had also expressed an interest in the player after a turbulent summer which had seen them lose a lot of key players, but the reports adds that they too are no longer likely to make an offer in January.
Aston Villa enter the international break on a high after three consecutive victories across all competitions. They return to action on Sunday 19 October when they face off against fellow European football hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur, who have made an excellent start to the new season.