Manchester United are keen on Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes, who has made no secret of his desire to play among Europe’s elite in the past
Joao Gomes wants to play Champions League football(Image: Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Wolves via Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim could use Joao Gomes’ Champions League aspirations to lure the Wolves star to Manchester United.
Amorim‘s side are currently experiencing their best run since the Portuguese manager took over a year ago, having gone unbeaten in five Premier League matches.
It puts them in seventh place, within reach of a Champions League qualification spot, albeit after only 11 matches. Nevertheless, there is a growing belief at Carrington that United can make a comeback to Europe’s premier club competition next year – something Amorim has openly admitted is a primary objective.
The club’s chiefs are ready to support him in the January transfer window, having already invested over £200million on their attacking line and recruited new first-choice goalkeeper Senne Lammens last summer.
The central midfield is the area most in need of immediate reinforcement, with several names linked to the Old Trafford outfit. These include Carlos Baleba and Elliott Anderson, as well as 24-year-old Wolves sensation Gomes.
As first reported in Portugal, the Brazilian is considered a more cost-effective alternative to the aforementioned pair and has been labelled “unbelievable” by his compatriot and United ace Matheus Cunha.
The Mirror reports United bosses have been keeping a close eye on Gomes for the past 18 months, and he could be available for around £44m. However, it’s believed that any potential deal may have to wait until the summer due to Wolves’ ongoing relegation battle and an agreement with their new manager not to sell their top players in January.
While this could prove frustrating in the short term, waiting until the end of the season might increase United’s chances of signing the former Flamengo star. If Amorim’s side manage to qualify for the Champions League, Old Trafford would become a far more appealing destination for Gomes.
Ruben Amorim is hoping to secure Champions League qualification for next season(Image: Shaun Brooks – CameraSport, CameraSport via Getty Images)
Gomes has previously expressed his desire to play Champions League football, although he mentioned rivals Liverpool as his preferred team. Before joining Wolves, Gomes told ESPN Brazil in the summer of 2022: “Liverpool is a team I would play for. I have the greatest desire to play. Playing in the Champions League is my biggest dream and that of my family, my biggest dream in football.”
While his support for rivals Liverpool might be hard for United fans to hear, football moves on quickly. An improved United with the promise of European football would put them in good stead if they approach Gomes next summer.
Amorim is eager to achieve exactly that. Speaking before last season’s Europa League final loss to Tottenham, the United boss stated: “Personally for me, Champions League is more important for everything, to prepare the next season, and we are supposed to be in the Champions League.”
For now, Amorim’s biggest challenge will be maintaining this form and pushing on, with many matches still to play this season. United host Everton in the Premier League next Monday before a visit to Crystal Palace.
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