​Liverpool could beat Manchester United to the signing of Joao Gomes this summer if the Brazilian’s earlier remarks still carry weight. The Wolves midfielder told ESPN in 2022 (via Fabrizio Romano on X) that the Reds are “a team I’d play for.” Atletico Madrid had been poised to seal a deal for the Old Gold star, but ultimately chose to complete a move for Sporting Lisbon’s Morten Hjulmand. If Gomes is chasing Champions League football, Liverpool can offer that, along with a direct route back to the Premier League. So, if United remain keen on pursuing him, the question becomes whether Michael Carrick’s project at Old Trafford or the Basque-born head coach’s vision at Anfield appeals more to the player.
For more Empire of the Kop coverage, consider adding us as a preferred source on Google to your favorites for reliable updates. Unfortunately for both clubs, the need for a robust holding midfielder is obvious after Casemiro’s departure from United, and Liverpool’s midfield struggled at times last season. Based on last season’s Premier League performances, you could understand why Gomes might entertain a move to United, but objectively Liverpool still boast greater depth in their starting XI. The key for the Reds, as we’ve emphasized, is to strengthen the squad with new signings so that new manager Iraola can implement his preferred style of football.
Clear as day is the fact that Liverpool underperformed last term, particularly in the middle of the park, under Arne Slot. The club must restore an aggressive, high-pressing approach and deploy a midfield that protects the backline, so that they can compete for the Premier League title once again. For United, however, it feels like Carrick’s men need a couple of solid windows to build a squad capable of challenging at the highest level. The landscape of this transfer saga remains fluid, but Gomes would fit a profile both clubs could use, depending on how the next rounds of negotiations unfold and how strongly the player weighs each project’s prospects.
What Gomes has said about signing for Liverpool and the latest updates continue to fuel the debate, with fans weighing the possibilities and pundits weighing the realities of Premier League transfer dynamics this summer. The story remains a live one, with the potential to reshape both clubs’ trajectories if the numbers and the terms align in Gomes’s favor.