Everton loanee Andre Gomes proves doubters wrong, Lille now face transfer battle to sign him permanently
Lille could be set to battle other European clubs for Andre Gomes as interest in the Everton midfielder begins to grow, according to Jeunes Footeux.
Jeunes Footeux claim (4 April) the 29-year-old is now an “indisputable starter” for the Ligue 1 side and that he is part of one of the “best” midfielder duos in France.
Lille do not have the option to buy the midfielder in the summer and it’s believed they will have to fight off competition to land Gomes permanently. It’s understood the strongest interest is coming from Spain and Portugal at present.
The former Barcelona man is credited with proving doubters wrong as they assessed the Lille midfield at the start of the season, notably lacking current Goodison star Amadou Onana, and his performances have created a market for his services.
Profit
There’s a good chance for Everton to make some profit here. Gomes is contracted to the club until the summer of 2024 and has been in good form for Lille. If there is interest in the summer, the board would be mad not to cash in on the midfielder.
He showed some promise at Goodison Park but never quite got back to his best after a dreadful injury November 2019. With the Premier League charge now hanging over the Toffees, they must be astute in the upcoming transfer windows and the chance to sell an out-of-favour player for profit cannot be turned down.
When Gomes does return to Everton, it’s unlikely Sean Dyche will view the midfielder as part of his plans moving forward.
The former Burnley boss needs players he can trust, and, unfortunately, the 29-year-old isn’t likely to be that at Goodison going forward.
This is one for the club to put on the back burner for the minute until the season reaches its conclusion. With Everton’s Premier League fate still in the balance, transfer decisions will take a back seat.