Pedro Goncalves has been linked with Man United (Getty Images)
According to claims from Portuguese outlet Record (h/t Daily Star), Manchester United have been linked with a January swoop for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Pedro Goncalves.
As per the report, the Red Devils are keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old attacking midfielder but Sporting are refusing to open talks over a potential transfer. The player’s agent has also indicated that a move away from Portugal is highly unlikely to materialise in the winter market.
Goncalves started his footballing education at Braga and Valencia before moving to England with Wolves in 2017. He featured regularly for the club’s U-23 side over the course of his two years in West Midlands but made only a solitary first-team appearance.
The central midfielder returned to his homeland with Famalicao in 2019 and went on to enjoy a promising debut season, amassing 5 goals and 5 assists in 33 appearances in the Primeira Liga. Goncalves’ exploits earned him a move to heavyweights Sporting Lisbon this past summer and he has looked like a completely different player over the past six months.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a spectacular start to life at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, plundering 11 goals and two assists in just 12 league appearances so far. Goncalves has effectively filled in the void left by the departure of Bruno Fernandes to Man United in January last year. Those eye-catching numbers have put several clubs across the continent, including the Red Devils on red alert.
Pedro Goncalves looks like a player in a mould similar to Fernandes. But Man United don’t really need to push too hard for his signature. With United emerging as genuine title contenders, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should definitely look at some impact signings this month to bolster his side’s chances of ending their drought for silverware in the Premier League.
Having said that, however, a potential move for Goncalves would make little sense in footballing terms as far as United are concerned. Granted, the former Portuguese U-20 international has impressed with his development over the past 12 months. But the Red Devils are more than well-stocked in the midfield department with several accomplished players competing for places.
United roped in Donny van de Beek from Ajax in the summer to add to their already packed midfield department. As a result, the Dutchman has found regular minutes hard to come by at Old Trafford, starting only twice in the PL so far.
The impressive form of Bruno in the No.10 role coupled with competition from Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Fred and Scott McTominay in deeper positions have kept him out of the side for large quarters of the campaign.
To that end, it is hard to figure out how Goncalves, who is also adept at playing in No.8 and No.10 roles, would possibly fit into Solskjaer’s plans. The Portuguese starlet understandably fits the bill as a good long-term signing but he looks hardly capable of walking into United’s starting eleven at the moment.
With so much depth and quality in the middle, United might as well look at options to strengthen other areas of their squad. The Red Devils need another out-and-out winger while clearing the deadwood in the centre-back department should also be high on the club’s agenda.
That said, they would be better off dropping their interest in Pedro Goncalves, at least, for the time being.