According to reports, Manchester United’s pursuit of Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes has suffered a setback, with the player potentially being priced out of a move.
With the Brazilian reportedly being on Manchester United’s transfer team’s long list of midfield targets for some time now, with Wolves currently sat rock bottom of the League, now could be the perfect time for the Reds to swoop in.
However, with Gomes only signing a contract as recently as January, a potential move to Old Trafford could potentially more difficult than initially anticipated.
With the wanderers not wanting to lose their midfield star in the summer, let alone January, a winter transfer will more than likely be off the cards, with the club still feeling they can stay up following the appointment of Rob Edwards, and will believe Gomes would be crucial to any chance of survival.
The difficulties of a potential transfer
Despite currently being nailed on for relegation, Wolves still feel they hold the cards surrounding a potential deal, with the Brazilian currently contracted to the club till 2030.
Quotes from Football Insider transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke help provide more insight into the situation and what hurdles United currently face in pursuit of a January transfer.
“The problem for Man United probably is that he signed a new contract not too long ago as well to keep him at Wolves until 2030,” he said.
“So Wolves will be demanding a decent fee for the Brazilian if they were to sell him.
“As I said, if Wolves do suffer relegation from the Premier League, it could make a deal easier to do due to price tag and obviously the player looking to play at the highest level possible.
“He’s a player United are well aware of, and they’ll keep tabs on the situation.”
Could Wolves be forced to sell?
Regardless of Gomes still having five years left to run on his contract, Wolves may still be forced to sanction a potential transfer for Gomes if they are unable to secure Premier League safety come May.
With the Wanderers still yet to record a win in the league, the club’s chances of survival seem more than slim at the moment.
Despite a reluctance from within the club to allow any ‘star’ players to leave, there is a reported acceptance amongst Wolves officials that they could be forced to sell valuable players, such as Gomes, in the summer if the club’s relegation is sealed by the end of the season.
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Many clubs have reportedly been put on alert about Gomes’s situation with United and Liverpool being two of the most notable names.
However, with the Wolves’ fate still yet to be decided and half the season still to play, the club will still fancy their chances of staying up, and will therefore be unlikely to sanction a transfer in January, with any interested clubs likely having to wait for the summer to make any potential move for the Brazilian international.
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