Joao Gomes was left out of the Flamengo squad this weekend with Wolves still hopeful of luring the Lyon target to the Premier League during the final week-and-a-half of the January transfer window, via the Globo Esporte.
Convincing Gomes that his future lies at Molineux, it seems, was the easy part.
According to FootMercato, the 21-year-old Brazilian has already given his word to Wolverhampton Wanderers, admitting that he dreams of joining compatriots Casemiro, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli on English soil.
Gomes is reportedly intent on joining relegation-threatened Wolves despite interest from Olympique Lyonnais; one of the biggest sides situated on the other side of the Channel tunnel.
The most daunting obstacle facing Julen Lopetegui, Mat Hobbs and co, however, is not convincing Gomes about the merits of a January move to Molineux,, but convincing Flamengo.
The Copa Libertadores winners have made it clear that, if Wolves are unwilling to match Lyon’s £16.5 million bid, then Gomes will not be wearing Old Gold on February 1st. To put it simply; Pay up, or give up.
Wolves hope to beat French giants Lyon to Flamengo midfielder Joao Gomes
According to Globo Esporte, Wolves thought briefly about walking away from negotiations, before opting to stick it out. Gomes, one of South America’s most effective ball-winners and a superior tackler than anyone currently in Lopetegui’s squad (WhoScored), could make a colossal difference to a side lacking a genuine defensive aggressor in the middle of the park.
“He has a lot of qualities,” Lyon coach Laurent Blanc said last week. “He’s a modern defensive midfielder. A very good player. I like him above all because he is very solid defensively.”
Gomes, linked with Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen the other side of Christmas, was conspicuous by his absence as Flamengo hammered Nova Iguacu 5-0 in the Campeonato Carioca on Saturday.
Despite talks with Wolves hitting an impasse, it remains highly unlikely that Gomes is representing Flamengo when the new Brazilian league season kicks off in April.
“A coach is a person who has to find solutions. I’ll try to find one,” Fla coach Vitor Pereira said recently when asked about Gomes’ departure.
Wolves completed the signing of veteran defender Craig Dawson from West Ham United on Sunday. Though he arrived too late to play a part in the Erling Haaland-inspired defeat to Manchester City.
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