Liverpool have entered the race to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes, with the club making direct contact with Wolves to understand the asking price and structure of a potential deal, according to Globo Esporte’s Cahe Mota and Fred Gomes.
The circumstances that have brought Liverpool to this point involve a chain of events stretching from Manchester to Madrid.
It ended with the Brazilian back on the market when few expected it.
Gomes had appeared destined to leave Molineux this summer after Atletico Madrid reached an agreement worth 45 million euros to sign him.
Everything was in place.
Then Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes intervened, opening parallel negotiations to bring Bernardo Silva to the same club.
When Mendes subsequently redirected that deal to Real Madrid instead, Atletico’s hierarchy reacted with fury and abandoned their agreement for Gomes entirely, despite personal terms already having been settled.
A transfer that appeared finished was suddenly wide open again.
Manchester United moved first.
Having abandoned their pursuit of Atalanta’s Ederson after complications emerged during medical examinations, United quickly identified Gomes as their primary alternative, reviving interest that had first emerged in January before Ruben Amorim’s departure shelved those plans.
Liverpool have now joined the conversation, contacting Wolves directly to ask about pricing and deal structure according to the Brazilian outlet.
The interest from two of English football’s biggest clubs is entirely understandable given what Gomes has produced.
Despite Wolves suffering relegation from the Premier League, the 25-year-old was voted the club’s Player of the Season by both supporters and teammates, a remarkable achievement given the context.
He featured in 41 of Wolves’ 44 league matches across the campaign, making 107 tackles, 36 interceptions, and accumulating 194 ball recoveries, numbers that place him among the elite defensive midfielders in European football.
Born in Rio de Janeiro and developed through Flamengo’s renowned academy, Gomes arrived at Molineux in January 2023 for approximately 15 million pounds and has since made 130 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals and providing six assists.
His 2022 Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil triumphs with Flamengo already marked him as a player with a winning pedigree, and his adaptation to the physical demands of English football has been seamless.
For Liverpool, the logic is clear.
Andoni Iraola demands intensity, pressing and defensive structure in midfield, and Gomes embodies all three qualities in their most aggressive form.
Whether the Reds move beyond initial contact into a formal bid remains to be seen.
But with United circling and Wolves under no obligation to sell cheaply despite their relegation, Liverpool will need to move with purpose if they are serious about bringing the Brazilian to Anfield.