MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 13: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Head Coach Michael Carrick of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground on July 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Michael Carrick is looking to bolster his side(Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Manchester United look set to miss out on Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes. It's understood he has left Wolves' training camp ahead of a £35million move to Aston Villa.
Gomes was first linked with the Reds all the way back in 2024, but he became a transfer target for the Reds again after United had purported issues with Ederson's medical. However, Gomes now looks set to link up with Unai Emery's side.
It means he will join the list of midfielders which include Mateus Fernandes, Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali to be linked with United only to choose other clubs. Gomes is anticipated to have a medical in the next few days before putting pen to paper on his Villa contract, according to the Birmingham Mail.
Gomes arrived at Wolves from Flamengo in the summer of 2023, penning a five-and-a-half-year deal at Molineux. Throughout his spell at the club, he featured in 130 matches across all competitions, netting eight goals and registering six assists.
As well as United, he had also been linked with a move to Liverpool and Atletico Madrid. However, Unai Emery's side is where he has ended up, and he will compete in the Champions League after the Villans won the Europa League.
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Ironically, Gomes will likely act as a direct replacement for Youri Tielemans, who departed Villa to join United for the exact same transfer fee. He was unveiled as the second midfield addition of the summer after the £50m capture of Andrey Santos.
It's understood United still want to add one more central midfielder to their ranks. With Casemiro no longer in the building and Manuel Ugarte out for a long time after his serious injury at the World Cup, United have three central defensive midfielders, including Kobbie Mainoo.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United in action with Joao Gomes of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on December 30, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images)
Gomes was linked with United for the best part of two years(Image: Molly Darlington/Copa, Getty Images)
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Michael Carrick's side are competing on four fronts next season after their third placed finish qualified them for the Champions League.
Carrick earned the United role with his league finish, but he never had to contend with playing in multiple tournaments, as United were not in European competition and were out of both cups by the time he arrived.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 14: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Youri Tielemans of Manchester United poses after signing for the club at Carrington Training Ground on July 14, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Tielemans recently arrived from Villa(Image: Manchester United, Manchester United via Getty Images)
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His squad will be significantly more stretched by the demands of playing in multiple competitions every week. It's understood Carrick also wants to add a new left-winger and striker to his ranks.
United's first pre-season clash of the summer gets underway on Saturday, when they take on Wrexham in Helsinki, Finland.