Newly-promoted Premier League club Hull City had prepared to make a proposal for Sporting CP's 28-year-old Portuguese winger Pedro Gonçalves. Saudi Arabia is also a potential destination for the player. The English club's sporting director, Jared Dublin, highly regarded Gonçalves, had been monitoring him for a considerable time, and was advising the administration to pursue the transfer. Hull City was preparing a €20 million offer, which was the minimum amount Sporting's board would consider for a sale. While Sporting's ideal fee was closer to €30 million, they were open to a deal in the €20-25 million range, dependent on objectives. However, the potential transfer was suspended following Dublin's unexpected departure from his role at the start of July.
Gonçalves joined Sporting in August 2020, has four caps for Portugal, has a contract until 2030, and has a current Transfermarkt market value of €25 million. In addition to Saudi clubs such as Al Ittihad and Al Nassr, Aston Villa has also been associated with the player. A reported €40 million offer from the Premier League club was rejected by Sporting in mid-2024.
