When it became apparent that Wolves’ owners were tightening the purse strings, there was some trepidation about the prospect of an end to an era where big-money signings – usually from the Portuguese league and often represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes – became the norm.
But without that new-found frugality, would Wolverhampton Wanderers have been encouraged to take that £15 million punt on Joao Gomes during the winter of 2023, when the club was limping along down the bottom of the Premier League and fearing relegation?
It’s not hard to imagine that, had Chinese backers Fosun International not forced Wolves to cast their net further afield in search of more under-the-radar talent, Gomes might have been a lot further down the pecking order.
Every cloud, then, has a silver lining. And, at just £15 million, Gomes has come to represent far greater value for money than many of the club’s more recent Iberian imports. From Goncalo Guedes to Fabio Silva. From Daniel Podence to the £5 million loan signing that was Francisco Trincao.
Reports from The Mirror claiming that Joao Gomes is now a summer target for Manchester United are, on one hand an unwelcome development for a club looking to build on a fine first season under Gary O’Neill. But, on the other, those links are also a compliment to Wolves’ recruitment department and their relatively new-found eye for a bargain.
Joao Gomes is a £40m Manchester United target
Man United reportedly want Gomes to replace his ageing compatriot Casemiro at Old Trafford.
When you consider that only Joao Palhinha and Vini Souza are averaging more than Gomes’ 3.5 successful tackles per game in the Premier League this season, you can how Gomes has earned his ‘Pitbull’ nickname (WhoScored).
But there is more than just bite to his game. Gomes hit a brace during Wolves’ recent triumph over Tottenham Hotspur, and is just as comfortable progressing the ball through the thirds as he is stopping attacks moving in the other direction.
A defensive midfielder in Erik ten Hag’s system must possess not only the ball-winning prowess of Casemiro but also enough poise and vision to pull his weight in possession. Gomes ticks both of those boxes emphatically.
“He is the player who really disarms, who tries to steal the ball, tries to disarm. He is among the best in the world at disarming the opponent,” Gomes’ former coach Maurizio Souza tells Premier League Brasil.
“Joao has always been very technical. A player who played in more midfield positions, as first, second or even a little further forward, because he has technical quality (and) has a good shot.”
A new deep-lying midfielder is not the only target on Man United’s extensive summer wishlist. Per Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils want a left-back too. And if, as The Mirror suggest, United have had scouts at Molineux, then it’s difficult to imagine that Rayan Ait-Nouri will not have caught the eye too.
Wolves have a huge array of talent
Ait-Nouri has always been a player of considerable promise. He, like Gomes, has taken his game to a new level under O’Neill, however, with one new addition to his game likely to appeal greatly to Ten Hag. Ait-Nouri has evolved from a typical, touchline-treading overlapping full-back into one also capable of stepping inside and performing the ‘inverted role’ so popular in the modern game.
Considering the injury issues United have had to contend with this season, a player capable of producing consistent displays in a variety of positions, and in a number of different tactical systems, could be worth every penny and then some.
“It’s very important being able to use him in a few different positions out of necessity,” O’Neil says of Ait-Nouri, who opened the scoring in a recent 2-1 win over Fulham and possesses so much experience at the age of just 22.
“He could roll inside and play in midfield from left-back. He played as a ‘number ten’ in the second half. He’s a great lad. He’s come on professionalism-wise and asks loads of questions now.”
Wolves, HITC Football understands, may have to sell at least one key player this summer for financial reasons. Man United are showing an interest in their £60 million-rated winger Pedro Neto but, after suffering a reoccurrence of his hamstring injury, there are understandable reservations among many Red Devils supporters.
And for the price of one Neto, United could spend £40 million on Gomes with £20 million left over to put towards a young, athletic and versatile left-sided full-back.
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