Manchester United target Joao Gomes: A Pitbull alternative to Ederson.
After the Ederson deal fell through due to medical reasons, Manchester United quickly contacted Joao Gomes. The Wolves midfielder is currently a top target for both the Red Devils and Liverpool.
Manchester United's midfield rebuilding plan has just taken an unexpected turn. After the last-minute collapse of their deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta, the Old Trafford club immediately shifted their focus to Joao Gomes, the midfielder currently playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Medical incident and snap withdrawal decision.
Previously, Manchester United were reported to have reached a key agreement to bring Ederson to Old Trafford. However, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Manchester club has decided to withdraw from the deal. The reason stems from the unsatisfactory results of the medical examination, causing concern among the Red Devils' management about the risk of long-term injury for the Brazilian midfielder.
As soon as the door closed on Ederson, Manchester United activated their backup plan in Joao Gomes. According to Globo Esporte, both the Red Devils and their arch-rivals Liverpool have contacted Wolves to inquire about transfer terms for the 25-year-old midfielder.
A crazy scenario from Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid
In fact, Joao Gomes almost joined Atletico Madrid for around €45 million. However, a series of unusual events in the transfer market caused the deal to collapse. The key lies with super agent Jorge Mendes, who represents both Gomes and Bernardo Silva.
When Bernardo Silva unexpectedly changed his mind and joined Real Madrid instead of Atletico as initially planned, the Real Madrid management was furious. In response, Atletico decided to cancel the signing of Joao Gomes as a reaction to his agent, creating a golden opportunity for Premier League teams.
Tactical profile: Why Pitbull?
Joao Gomes is no stranger to Manchester United's scouting department. He was on their priority list during the January transfer window, but changes in coaching staff at the time delayed the plan.
Despite Wolves being relegated to the lower league last season, Gomes' individual performance was extremely impressive. He is considered by experts to be one of the most reliable defensive midfielders in the league thanks to the following characteristics:
- Potential for dispute:The nickname "The Pitbull" accurately reflects his aggressive, fearless playing style and tenacious ball recovery ability.
- Pressing intensity:Gomes possesses excellent physical fitness, allowing him to maintain constant pressure on opponents throughout the 90 minutes.
- Ball control:Unlike pure defensive midfielders, the Brazilian player possesses excellent individual technique, helping his team escape pressing effectively.
With Manchester United's midfield needing more steel and attacking prowess, Joao Gomes is seen as the perfect piece to fill the void left by Ederson. However, with Liverpool entering the race, the €45 million price tag could be pushed even higher in the coming days.
