West Ham United could line up a summer move for Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes after being alerted about the player’s availability at the end of the season. According to a report by Talksport, the Catalans are willing to sell the Portuguese midfielder this summer which will give the Hammers a big boost in pursuit of the player’s signature. It is believed that Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in the 24-year-old and could compete with West Ham on the hunt for his services.
Gomes made a switch to the Nou Camp in the summer of 2016 from Valencia and his arrival gave rise to a lot of high expectations. However, the Portugal international has failed to make an impact at Barca and has been touted to make a move abroad over the past few months. Some sources have suggested that Spurs tried to strike a loan deal for Gomes last year, while the Hammers made an enquiry during the January transfer window.
With Barcelona now willing to part ways with their prized asset, it would open the door for West Ham to swoop in for his services if they can fend off stiff competition from North London. It is being reported that the La Liga leaders are ready to cash in on Gomes and use the money generated from his sale to strengthen other areas of their squad.
The Hammers are currently sitting in 12th place in the Premier League standings with a tally of 30 points in 27 league matches. They have been a tough nut to crack in the league over the last few weeks and have done well after the appointment of David Moyes in November last year. However, Moyes’s side are just four points above the drop zone going into the final stretch of the season and are in need of a few favourable results in the coming weeks to ensure their Premier League lives for another season.
Gomes has featured in 22 matches for Barca this term in all competitions but is yet to find the back of the net. He is highly versatile and can operate on either flank or in an advanced midfield role through the centre of the park. At 24, he still has his peak years ahead of him which the East London club could look to utilise as they try to bridge the gap between themselves and the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ in the coming years.
It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Gomes and whether he ends up making a move to the London Stadium in the near future.
