Manchester United have initiated contact with Wolverhampton Wanderers regarding a potential €45 million (£38.3m) transfer for midfielder Joao Gomes, according to reports from Brazilian outlet O Globo. This development comes after United reportedly ended their pursuit of Atalanta’s Ederson due to an issue discovered during a medical examination.
Fabrizio Romano initially reported United’s withdrawal from the deal for Ederson, a claim corroborated by O Globo, though neither club has officially confirmed the reports. The change in midfield targets signals a shift in strategy for manager Michael Carrick as he looks to bolster his squad ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season.
Gomes was previously close to joining Atletico Madrid following Wolves’ relegation from the Premier League last season. However, that deal reportedly collapsed after Atletico became frustrated with Gomes’ agent, Jorge Mendes, over a separate transfer involving Bernardo Silva. Atletico believed they had secured an agreement for Silva, who is also represented by Mendes, only for the player to ultimately join Real Madrid in June.
United’s interest in Gomes presents a new opportunity for the 25-year-old, who joined Wolves from Flamengo in 2023. He has since made 130 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals and establishing himself as a regular in the team. Gomes has also earned 10 caps for the Brazil national team, though he was not selected for the recent World Cup squad.
United have faced several setbacks in their search for midfield reinforcements this summer, missing out on targets Elliot Anderson, who joined Manchester City for €136m (£116m), and Mateus Fernandes, who signed with Tottenham Hotspur for €99m (£85m). A move for Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni also appears unlikely, with the player reportedly nearing a contract extension with the Spanish club. However, United are set to complete the signing of Andrey Santos from Chelsea for a fee of €58m (£50m), providing some much-needed depth in midfield. The potential addition of Gomes would further strengthen United’s options in that area and address a key area of concern for Carrick.
