Wolves transfer news: Rivals have hijacked deal for Molineux-bound target

Follow us on Google Discover

Lyon have reportedly reached an agreement with Flamengo to sign Joao Gomes despite the rumoured Liverpool target being set for a move to join Wolves this January.

According to Foot Mercato, the Ligue 1 giants have swept in at the eleventh hour to swipe Gomes right from Wolves’ nose in a €17m (£15m) deal, with the 21-year-old likely to move to France instead of the Premier League in what is a remarkable turn of events.

Wolves have been one of the busiest clubs in the transfer window this January with Julen Lopetegui signing Matheus Cunha on loan from Atletico Madrid as well as Mario Lemina and Pablo Sarabia from French duo OGC Nice and PSG. Yet Gomes would have been the one move to top them all.

Regarded by many as one of the top prospects in Brazil and a player who Liverpool were interested in according to ESPN, Gomes has been touted for a European move for quite some time. And the midfielder is now set to make his dream a reality, though Lyon now look to have won the race for the youngster ahead of Wolves.

Indeed, Wolves looked like they had secured Gomes’ signature in what would have been one of the deals of the January transfer window. Yet Lyon’s new owner John Textor, who also owns Flamengo, has seized the opportunity to beat the Premier League side to the Brazilian talent.

Whilst Wolves have spent well this January, there’s no denying that missing out on the 21-year-old maestro is a blow for the relegation-threatened side. And for Lyon, signing Gomes is quite the sign of intent from new owner Textor, who could use his Brazilian connections to make the French side a force again in Ligue 1.

Wolves must move on from signing Gomes amid pending Lyon transfer

Wolves looked to have the signing of Gomes in the bag based on reports at the start of this week. However, based on how fast Lyon are now moving to secure the midfielder, the Molineux side are now seemingly playing catch up with their European rivals for the youngster.

And as a result, Wolves could be better off just dropping their interest and bid to sign Gomes with a move to Lyon now imminent, with the Brazilian youngster also likely to favour a move to a top French club rather than a Premier League side fighting for survival.