Earlier this week Liverpool were linked with a potential summer move for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Pedro Goncalves.
Dubbed the next Bruno Fernandes, the goalscoring Portugal Under 21 international looks to have a bright future ahead of him.
Reports emerged claiming Jurgen Klopp could add Goncalves’ creativity to the Anfield ranks – with a £52million release clause mooted.
Despite the speculation surrounding his future with the Reds and arch-rivals Manchester United credited with an interest, the 22-year-old hasn’t off-field let matters distract him.
Goncalves netted a stunning hat-trick as the Primeira Liga table-toppers overcame Maritimo 5-1 to move five points clear at the summit and all but clinch the title.
Footage provided by @vsports_pt on Twitter.
Twitter: Sporting fecha com chave de ouro!
O campeão nacional recebeu e venceu o Marítimo com um hat-trick de Pedro Gonçalve… https://t.co/fRr2ftwT0A (@vsports_pt)
Remarkably for a player who predominantly plays behind a frontman as an archetypal number 10, the £13.5million valued starlet sits at the head of the goalscoring charts in Portugal with 23 league strikes.
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Signing Goncalves would certainly add much-needed creativity to an often workman like Liverpool midfield.
Whilst it’s hard to ignore the success Klopp has overseen during his tenure at Anfield – often, especially this season, there has been a lack of goals from other areas of the field.
Since the rightful sale of Phillipe Coutinho, both assists and goals have dried up from midfield – something Goncalves looks tailor-made to rectify.
This Liverpool side needs to develop in order to return to their former glory – one way of doing that would be adding a midfielder of the Portuguese ace’s ilk.
