Liverpool are reportedly battling rivals Manchester United and others for the signing of Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes this summer.
The Reds toiled in the middle of the park yet again on Saturday, with Alexis Mac Allister a leggy figure in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Anfield.
The need to strengthen the midfield is obvious for Liverpool, with an out-and-out No.6 possibly needed to give Ryan Gravenberch a little more attacking freedom, with the Dutchman not quite a natural sitting in front of the defence.
According to Caught Offside, the reigning Premier League champions are “monitoring developments closely” when it comes to £60m-rated Wolves ace Gomes ahead of the summer transfer window, with United and Crystal Palace also in the mix.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are believed to have “already initiated contact” over the move, as the battle to sign the 25-year-old hots up.
Joao Gomes a fantastic summer option for Liverpool
Gomes ticks so many boxes for Liverpool this summer, whether it is his age, his quality or the fact that he has proven himself in the Premier League.
The Brazilian has averaged 3.5 tackles per game in the league this season, showing how tenacious he is, while Wolves manager Rob Edwards has shown his appreciation for him, saying:
“I think he’s a wonderful player and he’s shown real glimpses and a lot of good stuff since we arrived as well. But I think it’s been hard for him because in a team that has struggled at times or if you’ve not got the results, it can be challenging. You can think ‘I’ve made a big move here’ and then you question things. I understand it, but he really, really stepped up the other night and that’s the level that we want to see from him all of the time now.”
At £60m, Gomes clearly isn’t a cheap option for Liverpool, but that still feels like a reasonable fee for a player of his ability in the modern game.
The Brazil international could be a mainstay of the Reds’ midfield for six or seven years, adding the legs and defensive nous that Mac Allister has struggled to all season long.