West Ham could absolutely establish their statement of intent if they sign this £48m midfielder

Why signing Andre Gomes will conclude a successful transfer window for West Ham

West Ham have looked confident and cohesive in their pre-season tour. Manuel Pellegrini has brought in a number of additions to considerably strengthen the squad. According to The Mirror, the Chilean is aiming to complete one more transfer before the window shuts.

The Hammers are aiming to make a late move for out-of-favour Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes (h/t The Mirror). Gomes made the move to Camp Nou from Valencia in 2016 after establishing himself as a fine central midfielder. But he has so far failed to live up to the expectations with the Catalans and could use a change of scenery to reignite his career.

The Mirror reports that Manuel Pellegrini is ready to offer West Ham wonder kid Domingos Quina in a swap deal that would see Gomes moving to London Stadium. Quina is an exciting young talent, having emerged from Chelsea’s youth academy.

There’s a certain positive energy around West Ham’s project and Gomes would fit into the squad. Pellegrini possesses a plethora of options in the middle of the park but the arrival Gomes’ arrival will provide the Chilean with further depth and cover.

The 25-year-old is technically astute and a creative player in the middle of the park. He possesses impressive dribbling abilities, making it hard for defenders to get the ball off him. The Portuguese international is also strong in the air, posing as a huge aerial threat from set-pieces and crosses.

Gomes would seamlessly settle into his role alongside new signings Jack Wilshere and Felipe Anderson. His potential is unparalleled and if nudged in the right direction, Gomes could go on to achieve great things in the near future. Perhaps the limelight and competition at Barcelona deprived the player of the game time needed to develop further. However, he could flourish under Pellegrini.

What makes the Portuguese midfielder even more enticing is his versatility. Although he is often deployed as a central midfielder, Gomes is also capable of playing on either flank. The Barcelona man is comfortable sitting in front of the defence, playing a deep-lying role in the midfield.

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The Hammers must be confident ahead of their opening game against Liverpool at Anfield. Manuel Pellegrini should certainly sign the player and conclude a fruitful transfer window for the club. With the current crop of players he possesses, West Ham can aim for a European spot this season.