By Anthony Onifade

16th Sep, 2023 | 8:10am

Sean Dyche makes Andre Gomes exit decision clear as multi-million transfer news emerges

Sean Dyche has publicly blocked the expected transfer exit of Everton midfielder Andre Gomes in a surprise new development at Goodison Park.

FotoMac reported on 13 September that the midfielder was set to swap Goodison Park for the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in a £4.3million deal as Fenerbache looked to bolster their defensive midfield options ahead of Friday’s Turkish transfer deadline.

However, Liverpool Echo journalist Joe Thomas, taking to his personal Twitter account on 15 September shared Dyche’s comments from his press conference on Friday admitting that he sees Gomes as a key part of his plans in a dramatic and unexpected u-turn.

Turkish news outlet Sporx reported on 14 September that Gomes’ potential move to Fenerbache had hit a roadblock with a deal now hanging in the balance.

Gomes was named in the club’s 25-man Premier League squad and Dyche has now shared that he hopes to have Gomes available to him for the rest of the campaign.

He said: “It is unlikely. He has been unfortunate with injuries and I want him to be a part of what we do. He is a very good football. I think he will be here at the end of today.

“I hope he is.”

Just when it seemed like all Goodison Park hope had been lost for the 30-year-old Portuguese international, Dyche has now performed a dramatic u-turn on Gomes’ future after several reports over the last couple of weeks reported that the former Burnley manager doesn’t see him as part of his plans.

How much difference a couple of weeks make in football and it now appears Gomes won’t be leaving Goodison Park this summer especially after he’s been expected to depart for a while.

It’s been well over a year since Gomes last starred in front of the Everton fanbase with his last Premier League appearance coming against Crystal Palace on home turf in May 2022 [Transfermarkt], and that may well be continuing for the foreseeable future.

The 29-time Portuguese international enjoyed a loan spell at LOSC Lille which proved rather successful featuring in 26 Ligue 1 games, scoring three goals and registering two assists.

Such a spell has now proven a strong factor in Dyche’s fresh decision with Gomes certainly providing all the qualities necessary to boost Everton’s midfield options this season.

Despite his struggles at the club, Gomes did enjoy some fruitful games in front of the Everton support and his stats over the past year show a player perfectly capable of thriving at the highest level alongside elite footballers.

According to Opta-powered stats FBRef, over the past 365 days, Gomes ranks in the 95th percentile for progressive passes per 90 amongst midfielders in Europe’s top-five leagues, 92nd percentile for successful take-ons, 93rd percentile for pass completion percentage and 98th percentile for touches in the middle third highlighting how pivotal he could be to boost Dyche’s philosophy at Goodison Park.

Gomes is a technically gifted outlet as the stats show, possessing tremendous composure, weight of pass, and great vision and could prove the difference maker in a team not possessing many well-rounded players in the middle.

A January exit is still possible for the 29-time Portuguese international but just when many Everton fans thought his career on Merseyside was drawing to an expected close, his story in Toffees colours hasn’t ended just yet.

In other Everton news, a new player stance has emerged on a potential free transfer move to Goodison Park.