Both under Unai Emery’s leadership and previously, Aston Villa has shown admirable ambition in recent years. However, this quest of success has left the team precariously close to compliance with Premier League profit and sustainability (PSR) regulations.
After making it into the Champions League with a top-four finish, observing the division’s financial rules is essential because breaking them could result in a devastating points loss during a period of immense potential.
But because of this, Douglas Luiz is about to join Juventus, and in exchange, Villa Park will receive Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea (along with some cash).
Emery is working hard to finalize agreements early because the 2024–2025 Premier League schedule appears to be winnable. A £35 million plus fee for Ian Maatsen has already been agreed upon. However, the Villans are by no means finished, as a one-time Midlands talent is being considered.
News about Aston Villa transfers
According to Portuguese publication O Jogo, which was cited by Sport Witness, Aston Villa is attempting to finalize an agreement to sign Pedro Goncalves, a top player for Sporting Lisbon, who has been on Monchi’s radar for some time.
The youthful player, who was once stationed in Molineux, was in outstanding form for Ruben Amorim’s championship team the previous season. Bayer Leverkusen made a bid of €30 million (£25 million), but the Liga Portugal winners quickly turned it down.
Goncalves is content in his native country, but he would be enticed to move abroad if the appropriate opportunity presented itself, and since Villa Park can provide him with Champions League football, he might be persuaded to advance in his career.
Why Pedro Goncalves is of relevance to Villa
Portuguese football analyst Tom Kundert called Goncalves a “dangerous” player, although he was crucial to Sporting’s 2023–24 campaign, netting 18 goals and dishing out 17 assists in all competitions.
The 25-year-old alternates between a center attacking midfield role and the wing, but he always provides a creative edge that highlights his fluidity and dynamism.
Emery’s interest is undoubtedly sparked by his positional flexibility, even though he would feel most at home at Villa Park on the left side, where Aston Villa is a little thin on the left flank. Mostly a right-sided wide player, Moussa Diaby spent half of the previous season playing in a central advanced role for Leon Bailey.
Goncalves is a highly creative player who scores goals, ranking in the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers in divisions comparable to Liga Portugal for goals and the top 3% for assists per 90, according to FBref. This is evident from the positional table above, which shows how creative he is when positioned at left wing.
Goncalves, a Sporting Lisbon native, has been compared to the team’s former playmaker, and Villa might be able to sign a player who can duplicate Manchester United’s success.
“The new Bruno Fernandes”
Naturally, the man in question is Bruno Fernandes. The Portugal international, who signed a contract worth up to £68 million to join Manchester United from Sporting in January 2020, has established himself as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe.
The £240k-per-week sensation has made 233 appearances for the Old Trafford team in all competitions, scoring 79 goals and dishing out 66 assists. He has shown himself to be an extremely reliable scorer and goal creator from an attacking midfield position.
The red side of Greater Manchester has had a difficult journey to success, but Fernandes has surely had a significant role in the Red Devils’ four-year run of success, which includes their wins of the FA Cup last season and the Carabao Cup in 2022–2023.
All-encompassing would be the word to remember. Fernandes is among the top 2% for both progressive passes and clearances, the top 12% for tackles per 90, and the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions throughout the previous season.
Similar to Fernandes, Goncalves enjoys mixing up his offensive production and making a valuable defensive contribution. Even while he may not be quite as athletic and vivacious as his predecessor, he still knows how to play a dynamic style of basketball.
The fact that talent scout Jacek Kulig has labeled him “the new Bruno Fernandes” is understandable given that their separate seasonal statistics demonstrate how effective each player is at a variety of positions.
The Portuguese player, who was once called a “superstar” by writer Jack Collins, may play wide more frequently than Fernandes, but the fundamental idea underlying his skill set is still the same.
This implies that he may be Emery’s personal version of the Manchester United phenomenon when he arrives at Villa Park this summer and light up the field in the Premier League and the Champions League the following season.
Even though Amorim and his team have already laughed off the £25 million offer made by Leverkusen, the undefeated champions of the German Bundesliga, Villa may soon make a move and submit an offer that begs to be accepted.
Although the loss of Douglas Luiz may seem like a setback for a Villa team that is rapidly improving, Emery is undoubtedly working hard to assemble a strong group of capable alternatives to eventually succeed the Brazil midfielder. Goncalves needs to be signed because he would be a huge asset.
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