Chelsea have had a £32 million bid rejected for Portuguese midfielder and Manchester United target Andre Gomes, according to reports in England and Spain.
Andre Gomes, who is currently with the Portugal squad at the 2016 Euros in France, started in his country’s opening match of the tournament against Iceland on Tuesday. The 22-year-old even managed to get an assist to his name, setting up teammate Nani for the first goal in the 1-1 draw.
His performances for Valencia in the last couple of seasons have drawn the attention of top European clubs, with Chelsea being the latest to show their interest in the Portuguese. According to Sky Sports, the Blues’ £32 million bid for the midfielder was turned down by Benfica, who are said to be holding out for a whopping £42 million for their star asset.
Benfica reportedly have a sell-on clause in Gomes’s contract with Valencia, which means that the Portuguese club are entitled to 25% of the player’s transfer fee. The sell-on clause is said to be the main reason why Chelsea and Valencia failed to agree on the £32 million figure for the 22-year-old.
Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for Andre Gomes, as newly appointed manager Jose Mourinho looks to overhaul his squad ahead of the 2016/17 season. Other than the Red Devils, Serie A champions Juventus have also been linked with a move for the Valencia midfielder.
However, Juventus seem to be out of the running for Gomes after signing Bosnia & Herzegovina midfielder Miralem Pjanic from Serie A rivals AS Roma. Now, with Chelsea’s bid being rejected, Manchester United are left as the only club still chasing the Portugal international, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.
Can Gomes make Manchester United great again?
Being a creative player, Andre Gomes has the capability to play in many different positions. He can play as an attacking midfielder and can also operate on both flanks. However, as proved by his performances at Valencia where he scored five goals and provided four assists last season, Gomes’s best position is in the heart of the midfield from where he can pull the strings.
This is one aspect that instantly makes Gomes a better choice than the likes of Marouane Fellaini or Juan Mata. The latter is known for his playmaking capabilities, but is lacking on the defensive front. Meanwhile, Fellaini is used more as an old fashioned centre-forward rather than a midfielder, which leaves big gaps in the middle of the park.
To add to that, being mentored by a great coach like Jose Mourinho could do a world of good for both Gomes and Manchester United, wtih the Red Devils looking to return to the top of English football.
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