Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes would cost £38 million this summer as Manchester United continue their hunt for reinforcements in midfield.
The Brazilian midfielder has settled excellently into life at Molineux following his £16 million move from Flamengo in January 2023.
While the stereotype of a player from the land of samba football suggests a skilful technician who may be more interested in flair and tricks than the physicality and work-rate English football demands.
Gomes, 23, has experienced zero issues with the adaptation process, however.
Combining technical qualities with an impressive aptitude for defensive contributions, the Brazilian midfielder is demonstrating the early signs of being capable of developing into a complete central midfielder. He ranks in the 99th percentile for tackles and the 92nd for interceptions – two qualities much-needed in the Premier League.
These performances for Wolves has seen Gomes called up to the Seleção with the 23-year-old a regular for Brazil in their Copa America campaign this summer. Indeed, Gomes made the squad while Casemiro missed out following a dismal season at the heart of United’s midfield last year.
And, the Manchester Evening News (MEN) relays, the Red Devils are considering replicating this changing of the guard at club level, with Old Trafford officials considering the Wolves midfielder as a potential alternative to PSG’s Manuel Ugarte.
“[Gomes] has made 49 appearances for Wolves and was a regular in Brazil’s Copa America campaign over the close season. This summer has seen him linked with a number of top European clubs and a report from Football Transfers has suggested that Gomes is one of the players being under consideration by Ineos and Dan Ashworth,” the report reveals.
The MEN contends “Gomes could cost around £38m – more than double what Wolves paid for him over a year-and-a-half ago.” And it appears the Midlands club are open to their midfielder’s potential departure with manager Gary O’Neill offering a “dangling carrot” in a recent interview over Wolves’ remaining transfer business.
“With the financial situation, sometimes we have to wait for it to be done to get others. That’s the key with anyone that leaves, might be Pedro (Neto) or anyone, if it’s with one minute to go in the window and we can’t replace them, he won’t be able to go.
“If anyone’s thinking of nicking our best players, we’re not going to let people leave unless we have good replacements that we can get in to help us,” the English coach revealed.
Gomes’ profile – a young talent who is Premier League proven and yet to take the jump to a big club, but appearing to have the talent to do so – is the exact one INEOS have laid out as the new recruitment approach at Old Trafford moving forward.
However, with a price of £38 million laid out for the Brazilian, United would likely need to sell an existing star to facilitate a move with Scott McTominay appearing a prime candidate.
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