West Ham United are going to make further changes to their squad in the summer having already sold or released a few players since the end of the 2018-19 football season. The Hammers, under manager Manuel Pellegrini, finished 10th in the league, and the former Manchester City boss will target a finish nearer to European spots next season.
The club has been linked with quite a few players and has been pursuing a Barcelona player, midfielder Andre Gomes, who was on loan at Everton last season. West Ham put in a bid of around £18 million for the Portuguese midfielder, but Barcelona rejected that offer. West Ham have reportedly put in another bid for the midfielder at £20 million (report by The Guardian) but Barcelona want £25 million for the 25-year-old.
But Gomes may well look to secure a permanent deal with Everton in the summer as his representatives are reportedly keen on seeing him return to Goodison Park ahead of the 2019-20 season. Over at the London Stadium, Pellegrini is apparently keen on playing Gomes alongside English youngster Declan Rice in midfield as per the report. The central midfielder played 29 matches in all competitions for Everton last season and became an important part of Marco Silva’s side.
The Portuguese midfielder signed with Barcelona from in 2016 for €35 million but could not impress the management enough to secure a starting XI position and hence was loaned out to Everton.
How will he fit in?
It’s quite clear that Manuel Pellegrini wants Gomes to play alongside Declan Rice, and that combination could prove to be a good one. Rice is a defensive shield who likes to intercept and tackle, while Gomes is a classy passer, who’s fluid in his movement and also keeps the ball ticking in midfield.
While his stats may not really show the value that he adds to the team, Gomes is a silent influence with his dribbling and passing in midfield. He can get out of tricky situations with ease and also spread the play with his good passing.
Pellegrini often played a midfield three in his first season, and if he is to continue playing that formation, Gomes will thrive when he has players like Mark Noble and Declan Rice who can dispossess the ball from the opposition while he distributes it further upfield.
