Manchester United made an approach to sign the Portuguese star Pedro Goncalves from Liga NOS leaders Sporting CP in this January transfer window but it looks like there is very little of that happening.
There is a traditional belief amongst football fans that January transfer windows should be all about clearing the deadwood as good deals are hard to come by. And that’s true to some extent.
There are several instances. It was United’s lack of activity in the summer transfer window of 2019/20 and the below-par creativity since the being of that campaign till January that forced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his management to sign Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon. More than a year has passed since then and it is safe to say that the Portuguese playmaker has been absolutely incredible for the Red Devils.
The addition eventually stirred up the team’s creative capability, helping them secure a Champions League spot via a 3rd placed finish in the Premier League and they have grown from strength to strength since then and are in the middle of a title race this season.
It is unlikely that Manchester United will sign Goncalves this month
Although Solskjaer has claimed that there won’t be any new arrivals this month, reports from Portugal claim that United made an informal approach with regards to another superstar-in-the-making from Sporting Lisbon.
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According to the Portuguese outlet Record (via Sport Witness), Manchester United made an approach for Pedro Gonçalves this month. But Sporting, the current table-toppers of Liga NOS, have made it clear to all the suitors of the 22-year-old that the club do not want to let him leave.
From 13 league appearances, he has scored 12 goals, five more goals than Porto’s forward Mehdi Taremi this season. A right-winger by nature, who is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, Gonçalves occupies the right-wing spot in Sporting’s unconventional 3-4-2-1 formation. And he has successfully thrived there.
Sporting have an upper hand in Gonçalves’ case, as the player’s current contract with the club lasts until 2025. However, his contract does also have a release clause of €60 million.
Manchester United need a player to perform consistently on the right-wing and Goncalves could be that guy. But they do have some other candidates to go by first.