Wolverhampton Wanderers being relegated from the English Premier League means the midfielder João Gomes is almost certain to look for a new base, and Liverpool have emerged as a major competitor for his signature alongside Manchester United.
The 25-year-old João Gomes needs top-tier football to ensure that Carlo Ancelotti allots him a berth in the FIFA World Cup squad, while Wolverhampton will have to sell their most precious asset to meet the financial strains of relegation. The club may manage to fetch anywhere around €45 million–€50 million (£39 million–£43 million) for the Brazilian, reports stated.
Apart from the two "Reds" of the Premier League, Crystal Palace and Atlético Madrid are also said to be interested in signing Gomes. He was linked to Manchester United in the winter window, but Wolves decided to keep him in the hope of survival. To the shock of United, Gomes is now open to a move to Anfield, although he has not made up his mind yet, CaughtOffside said in a report.
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Neither club has yet sent an official bid, and both are reportedly waiting for the transfer window to open. The higher the bidding war gets, the better for Wolves, but it is not known if the two clubs have set a higher limit on the amount they are willing to spend on Gomes.
Manchester United consider João Gomes as a replacement for his international teammate Casemiro, who is leaving at the end of the season. Gomes is a cheaper, younger option—in tune with the ongoing overhaul at Old Trafford. Liverpool's plans for him largely remain under wraps.
With two rounds left to play, third-placed Manchester United drew at Sunderland 0-0 while there were wins for Champions League-chasing Bournemouth and Brighton. Meanwhile, a draw with Chelsea at Anfield saw Liverpool move a step closer to guaranteed Champions League qualification - fourth in the table with two rounds left - but another unconvincing performance sparked a frustrated reaction from the crowd.
There were boos at the final whistle to mark growing unrest from Liverpool supporters in a season that has seen the team tamely surrender the title despite spending around $570 million in the transfer market.