- Manchester United eyeing Premier League midfielder
- Wolves midfielder has impressed
- Could be a cheap backup option
Manchester United have reportedly begun tracking Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, with his valuation set to plummet as relegation looms.
The Brazilian has emerged as a rare bright spark in an otherwise dismal campaign, dragging moments of quality from a side that waited 140 days to claim their first league win of the 2025/26 season.
Wolves now anchor the foot of the table on just 17 points—13 adrift of safety—and the drop to the Championship, their first in eight years, edges ever closer.
As that descent approaches, Gomes will likely push to remain in the top flight. While he does not headline United’s shortlist, he offers an interesting profile. If other names do not come to fruition, United may have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find something.
Is Joao Gomes the answer?
According to Mark Brus of Caught Offside, Gomes has long been appreciated by the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, and other big names are now also in frequent contact to stay informed about his situation.
United have a long-standing interest in Gomes, and he’s someone they’ll consider depending on how “other midfield targets work out,” one source told Brus.
“What’s attractive in this case is that there’s an informal understanding that Wolves getting relegated means his asking price drops from €60m (£52.3m) to more like €40-45m (£35-39m).”
“United will be a name to watch, but Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Napoli have all asked about him as well.”
While it is encouraging that Wolves accept a lower fee for Gomes, £35m still burns a hole in the wallet for a midfielder set to drag the side into relegation.
And yet, should his standout performances this season push Manchester United to secure him?
The club remains firmly in a stage of recruitment and rebuilding. The 2028 project aims for both the men’s and women’s teams to lift league titles by that year.
You do not achieve that vision by snapping up relegated players—unless their name is Roy Keane.
Casemiro has already confirmed that he is leaving the club when his contract runs out on 30 June, whilst Manuel Ugarte—who has found it hard to impress at the club—may also depart.
Gomes could arrive as a third or fourth option, but United need star power in the middle of the field. Whilst he is undoubtedly a talented player, the likes of Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Sandro Tonali sit at least on a pedestal higher than the Brazilian.
Could Gomes be a Backup Option?
Gomes may not rank among the first- or second-choice options, but he is a talented midfielder and could be a reliable backup.
Pair him alongside someone like Anderson, and United would field a dynamic, modern midfield. Gomes prowls the pitch as a relentless ball-winner, while the Nottingham Forest man drives the team forward as the engine of the team.
It wouldn’t be elegant, but the combination of the two could create a more dominant tactical shift in midfield. That said, when United are looking to invest in multiple areas this summer, it is unlikely INEOS will find £40 million down the back seat.
