Lille coach Paulo Fonseca is already being forced to defend Everton loanee Andre Gomes after a sluggish start to life in France for the Premier League misfit, speaking via Made In Foot.
It’s fair to say the Portugal international hasn’t made an immediate impact at the 2021 Ligue 1 champions. Gomes continues to be in and out of Fonseca’s starting XI, with the critics already sharpening their knives.
The one-time Barcelona benchwarmer, French publication Jeunes Footeux wrote last week, has been ‘far from convincing. It would be surprising if Lille made an offer at the end of the season to secure his services permanently.’
Compatriot Fonseca, however, is preaching patience, insisting that Gomes’ ‘great technical qualities’ will come to the fore once he has settled in his new surroundings.
Does Lille loanee Andre Gomes have a future at Everton?
“Andre Gomes is a very experienced player,” says a bullish Fonseca. “With great technical qualities, a very good pass, (who makes) good decisions.”
Gomes, who cost Everton an eye-watering £22 million, produced arguably his most effective performance in Lille colours during Sunday’s 1-0 triumph over perennial-overachievers Lens. Les Dogues are now seventh, just five points off the Champions League spots.
“We tried to find spaces in the Lens team. We had prepared him (Gomes) like that. It’s important to recover balls, to find spaces,” Fonseca adds. “He is a player who has not played much in recent seasons. He hopes to have more minutes now and he will improve more over time.”
Fonseca has a point. Gomes played just over 600 minutes of Premier League football in 2021/22, injuries ruining his hopes of a more regular starting berth under either Frank Lampard or Rafael Benitez.
The 29-year-old’s contract at Everton expires in 2024. It seems unlikely that there is a future for Gomes at Goodison Park, following the summer arrivals of Idrissa Gana Gueye, James Garner and the rangy Amadou Onana.
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