Manchester United’s summer signings have only just started to bed in and still, the likes of Manuel Ugarte are figuring it out but the work for the next batch of signings is already underway.
Ineos have taken a long-term approach to squad building with a concreted effort towards buying a younger profile of a player.
The present core of the Man Utd squad is set to develop together and Ineos’ triple swoop in the summer has sorted the future too.
In the immediate future, though, further strengthening will be on the agenda and even though January is not a time to make major moves, the foundations for a summer move are laid.
Manchester United have just received a huge boost about a potential summer move for Angel Gomes who has flourished since leaving Old Trafford.
Angel Gomes’ LOSC Lille contract stance
Angel Gomes has come a long way from being a scrawny but precocious teenager who wouldn’t get a look in at Old Trafford due to his size.
Gomes was always a highly-rated player in the youth academy but it can be argued that he was itching for a breakthrough at the least ideal time when Jose Mourinho was at the helm.
The Portuguese preferred a more physical profile of player so Scott McTominay broke out of nowhere but Gomes has done very well for himself since leaving United.
He’s now an England international and a key player for LOSC Lille in Ligue 1, having taken a circuitous path to stardom.
Consequently, United have been linked with Angel Gomes’ return and the player himself hasn’t done anything to quell the speculation.
With his contract expiring next summer, this is also the chance to land a huge bargain on a free transfer considering Gomes is still just 24 and reaching his peak.
French outlet L’Equipe reports that there are ‘no signs’ of Gomes signing a new contract at Lille, opening the door for him to talk to other clubs in January.
The playmaker probably knows he can get a great deal for himself if he moves on a free transfer and with the interest in him intense right now, he can leverage the situation to maximum effect.
Angel Gomes’ fit at Man Utd
Micah Richard said recently Gomes is one of Ligue 1’s best talents and his transformation into a silky, deep midfielder has been nothing short of tremendous.
He made his England debut as a deeper midfielder tasked with dictating the play and circulating the ball while he can play as one of three central midfielders as well as a No. 10.
That sort of versatility provides great flexibility to the manager and at United, he can be a natural replacement for Christian Eriksen.
Eriksen is unlikely to renew at Man Utd with his contract expiring in the summer so replacing one free transfer with another is a PSR dream.
Of course, United aren’t the only club interested in Gomes so they will need to be proactive and move quickly but their history with the player should give them a leg up.
He didn’t leave United on bad terms and the club is responsible for his early footballing education. Gomes could be driven to return to United and prove to the team that he left that he’s good enough now.
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