Manchester United have made contact (and probably have started negotiating) with Valencia officials over the signing of Andre Gomes. At this moment, talks are reportedly ongoing between the two clubs, but no agreement has been reached as yet.
Serie A champions Juventus are looking to bolster their midfield this summer and have identified Gomes as one of their top priority targets.
The 22-year-old Portuguese is a highly rated midfielder and could go on to become a class player in the future should he fulfil his potential. After impressing during his time at Benfica and Valencia, he feels that the time is right for him to test himself at a bigger club.
Gomes joined Valencia initially on loan in 2014 and made 33 La Liga appearances for Los Che. At the start of the 2015/16 campaign, he completed his switch to Spain permanently and signed a long-term contract that will keep at the club till 2020.
Signing a midfielder is the need of the hour for Juventus. Claudio Marchisio tore his ACL in Juventus’s 4-0 win over Palermo towards the end of the season, and the Italian will be out for six months. Juventus will need to cover for him in the vital regista position.
André Gomes is a target for Man Utd. Always said. Agreement not reached yet; but talks ongoing. Juventus in contact with Valencia too #MUFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 30, 2016
Another central midfielder Hernanes hasn’t quite impressed in his first season at the club, while Mario Lemina is more of a box-to-box midfielder than a deep-lying playmaker.
Gomes is a versatile midfielder who can play anywhere along the midfield but he is best suited in the role of a regista. His main strength lies in passing and brings more to the game with his sublime dribbling skills.
The question is – can Juventus sign him? Valencia are demanding a fee in the region of €40m for their star player, a fee that his agent Jorge Mendes is equally happy with.
Mendes was spotted at San Siro during the 2015-16 Champions League final and sat close to Agnelli, who let him know of Juve’s interest.
According to reports from Di Marzio, Juventus have offered €30m for Gomes with an additional €20m in bonuses but Valencia aren’t exactly pleased with the offer.
The Bianconeri are facing a strong competition from Manchester United who are seemingly willing to sign Gomes and are willing to offer him and Valencia a better financial package. The Red Devils are ready to offer €40m for the player and are emerging as favourites to sign the Portuguese midfielder.
Gomes would be a terrific signing for United. Being a deep-lying playmaker, he could be an ideal replacement for Michael Carrick. Defending is one aspect of his game where he needs to improve, especially if he decides to move to the Premier League where his physical presence in the midfield will be thoroughly tested.
As it stands, United reportedly have offered more than Juventus, but without Champions League football can they tempt him to join Old Trafford this summer? Mendes has a great working relationship with United and once again he could prove to be the key man behind any probable transfer.
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