Man Utd plot Joao Gomes transfer as gentleman’s agreement for January window emerges

View 2 Images

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will move to strengthen his midfield in January to bolster the club's Champions League hopes.

United are unbeaten in five Premier League outings, their best run under Amorim since his appointment 12 months ago, and there is real belief at Old Trafford that they can return to European football's top table next term. As such, they're ready to build on what club chiefs believe was an extremely positive summer transfer window when the new year hits.

Having spent £200million to rebuild the club's ailing attack and finding themselves a new No.1 in the shape of Senne Lammens, adding more quality to United's midfield ranks is the next port of call. Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes have emerged as Amorim's preferred options, but the Brazilian's long-term future remains in question, while there is also speculation that Uruguay international Manuel Ugarte could be sold to raise funds.

There are also questions over the future of Kobbie Mainoo , with Amorim uncertain over his best role and the player having seen his World Cup hopes dwindle due to a lack of playing time.

Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson is well liked at United, but the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City are also keeping tabs on a player whose reputation is growing fast, while Brighton's Carlos Baleba is a long-term target. However, both would likely cost in excess of £100m.

But, as first reported in Portugal, Wolves ' Joao Gomes has emerged as an alternative. The Brazil international, hailed previously as "unbelievable" by United No.10 Matheus Cunha - a team-mate with the Selecao and during their time together at Molineux - has extensively been watched by United chiefs over the past 18 months and could be available for much cheaper than the aforementioned £100m duo. A £44m price tag has been mooted abroad.

View 2 Images

However, any deal at that price may have to wait until summer. Wolves find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, yet to win this season and with only two points to their name. New manager Rob Edwards has been hired with the club vowing to do all it can to remain in the top flight.

And that includes something akin to a gentleman's agreement with their new head coach not to sell the club's prized assets in January to give them the best possible chance of staying in to the Premier League. And that means keeping the ex-Flamengo star.

Of course, that could change if United made an offer worth greatly in excess of Wolves' valuation of Gomes. But that figure would need to be well above the mooted price.

For Gomes' part, he has a World Cup with Brazil next summer to think about and knows he needs to be playing regularly in the Premier League to give himself the best possible opportunity of being in Carlo Ancelotti's squad. He gets that at Wolves and may not initially in Manchester. However, a move to United may not still be there for him in summer, if United have other options on the table.