Liverpool see Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes as both a “viable” and “ideal” signing in the summer transfer window, according to an encouraging new claim.
The Reds are still yet to make a midfield signing this summer, with centre-back Jeremy Jacquet and winger Victor Munoz the only additions to date.
At least one new face in the middle of the park is a must, though, even if Curtis Jones remains at Anfield, with Andoni Iraola stressing that he wants him to stay put at Anfield:
“I rate Curtis very highly. For me he is a great player. It’s very important he’s Scouse, that he’s from here. I also like the personality. I hope we can keep him, not only for this year, more time.”
According to Football Insider, Liverpool are “weighing up a move” for Wolves ace Gomes, who is seen as an “ideal” choice to bring in, “due to his strong experience of playing Premier League football.”
In an added bonus, it is also stated that Gomes “could be available for as little as £30m following Wolves’ relegation, rather than the £40m price tag from previous windows.”
Joao Gomes: Perfect or flawed option for Liverpool?
Gomes is an impressive midfielder full of fight and quality, standing out for Wolves despite their relegation from the Premier League last season and being hailed by manager Rob Edwards:
“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.”
There is a lot to like about Gomes as an option for Liverpool, not least his Premier League experience and dynamism, but that’s not to say that he is perfect.
He is a diminutive player, so at a time when physical strength and set-pieces have come to the fore in English football, he wouldn’t be an asset for an already relatively short Liverpool side.
That said, £30m would be a steal for such a good footballer in the modern game, so if the Reds were able to strike a deal, he could be an excellent addition.