Why Andre Gomes Would Be Perfect For West Ham United
West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a massive transfer boost ahead of the summer with Barcelona reportedly planning to sell midfielder Andre Gomes.
Gomes joined Barcelona from Valencia in the summer of 2016 but has failed to live up to the billing in his one and a half seasons at the club.
The 24-year-old could have left Camp Nou at the start of the season but Ernesto Valverde decided to keep hold of him to see what he could offer the Catalans until the end of the campaign.
However, Gomes has not been regularly used by Valverde and the midfielder has endured a frustrating period at Barcelona. But after the World Cup in Russia, there is a big possibility of the midfielder leaving the club to play regularly, with a host of clubs expectedly circling for his signature.
And one of the clubs interested in adding Gomes to their squad ahead of the next season is West Ham.
It might be considered unfair to judge Gomes based on his substandard displays at Barcelona. While the Portuguese has struggled to impact games at the Camp Nou, failing to emerge as a possible replacement for Andres Iniesta, the fact still remains that he is highly-rated and would work wonders at West Ham.
Strengthening the squad is a priority for David Moyes, who has revitalised the Hammers since replacing Slaven Bilic. The Hammers were in the relegation zone under Bilic, failing to churn out victories. Since Moyes’ appointment, the players have responded to him and find themselves in a much better place than before; although they still continue to fight against relegation.
If the Scotsman could somehow guide West Ham to safety this season, the board is expected to provide substantial funds to him to spend in the summer. Moyes’ priority remains to guide the Londoners to safety but he would also be planning for next season.
A move for Gomes in the summer would be a boon for West Ham. The January signing of Joao Mario could act as a huge help in attracting the Barcelona midfielder to join the Irons, given the fact that Mario and Gomes are national teammates.
West Ham, in truest of senses, appears far more suited to bringing the best out of Gomes, especially with Moyes’s style of play. The versatile midfielder would also provide a natural outlet for counter-attacks.
If Moyes happens to sign Gomes, the versatile midfielder, who is also capable of operating on the wings, will need not necessarily have to fight for his place at West Ham. The £19.8m-rated Portuguese would be an instant upgrade on the current crop of Hammers’ midfielders.
The Portuguese international can play as a part of a double-pivot, in the three-man midfield or on the wings; meaning Moyes would reap a lot of benefits if he gets hold of him. The West Ham manager, if he succeeds in signing Gomes, could then play different formations according to his wish.
The signing of Gomes will also give Mario the creative freedom he needs in order to create space for his teammates and not give much attention to the defensive side of his game.
West Ham need quality if they are to regain Premier League status next season and a versatile midfielder like Gomes could help the team massively.
Having said that, the Portuguese ace would need regular game time, and so staying back at Barcelona will certainly not help him. The Premier League suits Gomes’ style of play and signing him would be a fantastic piece of business for West Ham.