Flamengo chief drops big update on Wolves’ £15m Joao Gomes deal

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Flamengo’s vice president Marcos Braz admits that Joao Gomes is set to leave the Brazilian giants as Wolves close in on a £15 million move to bring the midfielder to the Premier League, speaking to Globo Esporte and ESPN.

Gomes ‘dream’ is about to become a reality.

A couple of months after admitting that he would jump at the opportunity to showcase his talents on English soil, Wolverhampton Wanderers are offering one of South America’s most exciting young midfielders the opportunity to do exactly that.

Wolves belatedly agreed a £15 deal with Flamengo last week (BBC); Gomes getting his wish after turning down Lyon in favour of the Molineux-based outfit.

Reporter Vene Casagrande claims that the 21-year-old ‘Pitbull’ touched down in England on Sunday. He should be available to make his debut in Old Gold during the upcoming home clash with a desperately out-of-sorts Liverpool side on February 4th.

Wolves are close to signing Joao Gomes from Brazilian giants Flamengo

“Someone could still come (to replace Gomes). We lost a player,” Braz says. “This sale gives us the possibility of (signing a new player). Flamengo is always attentive to the market.”

Lyon were reportedly offering Gomes, a key part of Flamengo’s 2022 Copa Libertadores winning squad, a higher salary than he will earn at Wolves (FootMercato). Money isn’t everything, of course; Gomes following his heart, the lure of the Premier League impossible to ignore.

“I think he would be suited (to the Premier League),” South American expert Tim Vickery tells Sky Sports.“What Joao Gomes has been doing in central midfield has been carrying the piano. Doing the hard yards; running, tackling, covering.

“He hasn’t had to develop a great deal of the creative side to his game. Flamengo have got other players to do that. He is certainly combative.

“I think most fans will admit that Wolves aren’t nearly as dominant in their league as Flamengo are in theirs. So maybe a little bit more creativity will be expected from him. It will be interesting to see if he can develop that side to his game.”

Gomes, a player best renowned for his fierce tackling ability, should slot in as the deepest-lying midfielder in Julen Lopetegui’s team, giving Ruben Neves and/or Matheus Nunes the freedom to push on into the final third.