Liverpool are looking to sign a midfielder this summer, and Wolverhampton Wanderers may have the solution in Joao Gomes. The Brazilian had agreed on a €45 million move to Atletico Madrid, which has stalled. Liverpool have reportedly made an enquiry and could sign the midfielder.
Should Liverpool Sign Joao Gomes from Wolves?
Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes has been linked with a move away this summer. A move to Atletico Madrid seemed likely but has now stalled.
Despite an agreement being reached between Wolves and the Spanish side, no movement has been made. This has led Wolves to believe that a deal is off the cards.
Liverpool and Manchester United are said to have now made their interest known. Both clubs require a midfielder and have reportedly enquired about the structure of a potential deal, according to Globo.
Liverpool’s past interest in Joao Gomes
In 2022, Liverpool had recorded some interest in the Brazilian whilst he was playing for Flamengo. The Reds opted not to move for him despite the player publicly expressing a desire to play for the club.
“Liverpool are a team I’d play for. I have the greatest desire to play. Playing in the Champions League is my biggest dream in football.”
The admiration has clearly never been one-sided. Liverpool have been known to scout in the Brazilian league over recent years, as they were even linked with Gomes’ current teammate Andre during his time at Fluminense.
USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConnectJoao Gomes' admiration for Liverpool
Whilst the player spoke highly of Liverpool in 2022, as he was discussing the club’s interest in him. Going back a further two years, in 2020, the player was tweeting his admiration for the club.
This tweet was made in response to Liverpool’s iconic second-leg showdown against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Whilst Liverpool ultimately lost the match due to goalkeeping errors, the football on display was mesmerising.
It was so mesmerising that Joao Gomes had to tweet about it. He referenced the intensity, which is something Liverpool supporters are hoping to see again under new manager Andoni Iraola.
The player had even tweeted his excitement after Liverpool had pulled off the most iconic semi-final comeback in UEFA Champions League history, defeating Lionel Messi’s Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield. The midfielder was at the Flamengo youth team proposing that the Club World Cup final will be between Liverpool and his Brazilian side.
He wasn't wrong, as Liverpool defeated Flamengo 1-0 in the final. Whilst Gomes didn't get a chance to play, he would have witnessed a Brazilian star score the match-winning goal in Roberto Firmino.
Why is Liverpool interested in Joao Gomes?
The 2001-born midfielder is of interest to the Reds for many reasons. Something Liverpool have lacked in their midfield is aggression, which is a huge part of Gomes’ game.
During the 25/26 Premier League season, his defensive stats, per 90 minutes, ranked highly amongst other Premier League midfielders (via FotMob):
Defensive Contributions - 12.3 (86th percentile)
Tackles - 3.4 (90th percentile)
Recoveries - 6.16 (89th percentile)
Duels Won - 7.18 (90th percentile)
His price tag is another factor, as Liverpool would have already seen the reported agreement between Wolves and Atletico Madrid. According to Ben Jacobs, a fee of ‘around €45 million’ had been agreed.
Author’s Verdict
Joao Gomes presents himself as a great market opportunity. Whether he has enough quality to succeed at Liverpool is a big question that will be asked around this rumour.
Going forward, Gomes won’t offer too much, but that’s not what his role is. He’s an aggressive ball-winning midfielder - the closest player Liverpool have to him is Wataru Endo.
For about £40 million, it wouldn’t be a bad signing at all for Liverpool. It’s understandable why the Reds have reported interest in him, but whether they act on that interest remains to be seen.
