Joao Gomes is starting to feel like the next name on the list. Wolves have spent the season fighting for stability, but the transfer noise has not gone away. It has only shifted direction. Manchester United interest flared briefly and then faded. Now Napoli are the club pushing hardest, and the confidence around the move is growing. An agreement with the player’s camp is said to be in place. What remains is the part Wolves control.
NAPOLI STEP UP THEIR WORK
Napoli have been looking at midfield options for months, and Gomes has moved to the top of their plans. Reports in Italy suggest the club see him as a strong fit for Antonio Conte. Not because he is flashy, but because he covers ground, wins duels, and plays with edge. That profile has value. Napoli need energy in midfield and players who can handle difficult games. Gomes has already shown he can cope with the Premier League’s intensity.
Recent reports claim Napoli have agreed financial terms with Gomes’ entourage. The line being used is that they have “practically secured” him. It is a big claim, but it hints at something important: Napoli believe the player wants this move. Now they need Wolves to say yes.
WHAT HAPPENED TO MAN UTD LINKS?
Manchester United were linked earlier in the season. The story grew quickly for a couple of days, then disappeared. That does not always mean it was fake. Sometimes it just means a club never moved beyond scouting. There was no formal bid. No visible push. And United’s situation has been unsettled, so targets can change fast. Napoli have filled the space left behind.
AGREEMENT WITH THE ENTOURAGE IS ONLY HALF THE JOB
If Napoli have agreed personal terms, they hold an advantage. It means they can move quickly once talks open. It also makes it harder for rivals to convince the player to wait. But Wolves still hold the contract, and that is the part that matters most. Gomes is not out of contract, and Wolves can demand a serious fee. This is where the deal stops being tidy.
WOLVES STILL HAVE THE POWER
Wolves are bottom of the table and under real relegation pressure. If they go down, players will want out. That is normal. But Wolves also know Gomes is one of their key starters.
Reports suggest a fee around €40m could be needed. That feels realistic for a 24-year-old Brazil international with Premier League experience. Relegation could weaken their bargaining position. It does not wipe it out.
WHY CONTE WANTS HIM
Conte’s teams need midfielders who do the hard work. Gomes fits that idea. He presses, tackles and recovers quickly after losing the ball. Those traits are not glamorous, but they shape games.
Napoli also need balance. If they sign someone who can cover space and win duels, it gives others freedom to play. That is why this move makes sense on paper.
WHAT COMES NEXT
Napoli will now aim for club-to-club talks. That is the real hurdle. The personal side sounds close, but Wolves have not agreed anything.
A summer deal feels more realistic. It gives Wolves time. It gives Napoli structure. January deals tend to rush decisions and punish mistakes. The risk for Napoli is simple. If another club arrives later with more money or more urgency, the picture can change.
AUTHOR’S INSIGHT
This feels like Napoli laying the groundwork early rather than a deal that is already done. Agreeing terms with the entourage is a strong signal, but Wolves still control timing and price. If Wolves remain bottom, pressure builds. If they recover, they can hold firm. Gomes looks likely to move, but the hard part is still ahead.
As featured on ManUNews.com