Wolverhampton Wanderers tenacious midfielder Joao Gomes has enjoyed an impressive campaign that has attracted the attention of several European heavyweights.
With Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo earning plaudits during his breakthrough season, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co aim to partner him with a formidable option to marshal the midfield.
The Brazilian’s imperious stature in the heart of Gary O’Neil’s side was noticeable from the offset, with the 23-year-old rewarded with two international appearances for Seleção.
Unsurprisingly, the prospect of a Manchester move for Gomes began to surface in March, with football enthusiasts beaming when contemplating the duo linking up.
But who is this talented South American, and why should the Old Trafford faithful get excited about his potential move up north?
A background on the Brazilian
Born in Rio de Janeiro in February 2001, the dominant midfielder joined his beloved Flamengo at eight.
He scaled the ranks at Mengão, earning a reputation as a combative facilitator with an ability to fend off the press.
An opportunity for the first team came in November 2020, with Gomes immediately impressing the partisan support and featuring 14 times to season end.
Over the next two seasons, he would achieve a staggering tally of 108 appearances, playing a starring role in victories across the Copa Libertadores, Copa do Brasil, Supercopa do Brasil, Campeonato Carioca and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
His conquests earned a place in the Team of the Year for the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in 2022, inevitably catching the eye of sides across Europe.
After a dogged battle between The Old Gold and Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais, the allure of the Premier League was too difficult to refuse, with a fee of €18.7 Million agreed for a move to the West Midlands.
The figures behind the player
United are anticipating the departure of several players, including the legendary Casemiro. At 23, his compatriot can supply the perfect replacement.
Across 34 Premier League appearances, Gomes played an impressive 2659 minutes – averaging 78 minutes per outing and avoiding injury.
During this time, he maintained 4.35 tackles per 90 minutes, winning 2.51 and ranking in the top 2 percentile of all holding midfielders.
Additionally, he successfully challenged 3.36 dribblers and tackled 1.49 per 90′ – while adding 1.73 blocks and 1.46 passes blocked.
When factoring in the combination of this defensive output, he ranks in the top nine percentile in the league. With a market valuation of only €35 Million, this is a defensive giant for a snippet of a price in the modern game
Does Gomes fit the Ineos model?
With a reputation that has earned the nickname ‘Pitbull’, the Brazilian represents a viable option to meet the Ratcliffe criteria.
His age, prospective valuation, and ceiling to grow into a Premier League colossus will go hand-in-hand with the development of Mainoo.
Furthermore, with 18 months spent in England, he achieves the holy grail of being ‘Premier League proven’.
The Theatre of Red can confirm that United Scouts have been monitoring the player throughout the campaign, and he ranks highly on the list of potential targets.
A move would be another fine example of shrewd acquisition for a player who has won everything in South America and has taken to English physicality like a duck to water.
Let us know how highly you value the player in the comments below.
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