Arsenal: 8 Emi Buendia alternative transfer targets

Pedro Goncalves – Sporting CP

Some players are hard to ignore, even if they operate outside of Europe’s ‘top five’ divisions. The big name around the continent right now is Pedro Goncalves, and it’s little wonder why.

He’s the one that got away for Wolves, who had him on their books for two years but only gave him one competitive appearance for the club prior to returning to his native Portugal. Now with Sporting, he’s on a different planet.

An exceptionally high level of technical ability means Goncalves is a threat in every area of the pitch. For Sporting he lines up as the right-sided one of two wandering No. 10’s behind the striker, given license to drop deep and spread play or push high and wide. Pretty much everywhere. For someone who is not a striker, 23 goals in 34 Primeira Liga matches is nothing to scoff at. He averaged 0.86 goals or assists per 90 minutes in 2020/21.

For someone so effective in the final third, averaging 1.3 tackles and 5.1 duels won per 90 is a testament to his battling qualities at either end of the pitch. Often it’s almost as if he takes too much upon himself, but that would be unfair given his goal output.

Only 22 years old and in his first season with the club, any side wanting to lure him away will have to pay big money to do so. Sporting sold Bruno Fernandes for a hefty fee and with someone on their books considered the second coming of him (he’s more agile and quick but not as much of a creative force), any sale will be costly.

His outstanding form can’t be ignored, however. Sporting won their first league title since 2002 and without his intervention that would certainly have been a different story. Is this level of contribution sustainable? It’s an expensive but elusive question to answer.