---
title: "Virals: Reported Liverpool target Pedro Goncalves nets sublime hat-trick"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/virals-reported-liverpool-target-pedro-goncalves-nets-sublime-hat-trick/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2021-05-20T14:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-05-20T14:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: Reported Liverpool target Pedro Goncalves nets sublime hat-trick

Earlier this week [Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/05/20/virals-peter-crouch-backs-steven-gerrard-hall-of-fame-induction/) were linked with a potential summer move for Sporting Lisbon midfielder [Pedro Goncalves](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/05/19/virals-liverpool-make-contact-with-sporting-lisbon-star-pedro-goncalves/).

Dubbed the [next Bruno Fernandes](https://www.football365.com/news/liverpool-man-utd-52m-race-new-bruno-fernandes-goncalves), the goalscoring [Portugal Under 21 international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/pedro-goncalves/nationalmannschaft/spieler/426620/verein_id/16374) looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

[Reports](https://www.teamtalk.com/news/liverpool-contact-midfield-target-pedro-goncalves-release-clause) emerged claiming Jurgen Klopp could add Goncalves’ creativity to the Anfield ranks – with a £52million [release clause](https://www.teamtalk.com/news/liverpool-contact-midfield-target-pedro-goncalves-release-clause) mooted.

Despite the speculation surrounding his future with the Reds and arch-rivals Manchester United [credited](https://onefootball.com/en/news/liverpool-man-utd-eyeing-sporting-cp-attacker-pedro-goncalves-33014042) 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](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/portuguese-primeira-liga/table) overcame Maritimo [5-1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKg48WHbV10) to move five points clear at the summit and all but clinch the title.

Footage provided by [@vsports\_pt](https://twitter.com/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](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/pedro-goncalves/marktwertverlauf/spieler/426620) valued starlet sits at the [head of the goalscoring charts](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/portuguese-primeira-liga/top-scorers) in Portugal with 23 league strikes.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

Signing Goncalves would certainly add [much-needed creativity](https://betweenthelines5638.wordpress.com/2021/01/20/pedro-goncalves-scout-report/) 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](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/liverpool/liverpool-boss-jurgen-klopp-shrugs-off-concerns-lack-midfield-goals-before-southampton-trip-a4109286.html) of the field.

Since the [rightful sale of Phillipe Coutinho](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/selling-coutinho-liverpool-best-ever-business-souness-van/1wkckbc2om9e916vaudy9nrc1y), 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](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/344378/Show/Pedro-Gon%C3%A7alves).