‘A Team I Would Play For’ – Brazil Talent Names Liverpool As His ‘Dream Team’ Giving The Reds An Edge Over Others In His Pursuit

Flamengo midfielder, Joao Gomes who has been relevant for some time after his outstanding displays for the Brazilian side, has handed Premier League giants Liverpool and edge over others in his pursuit. The Reds are looking in all directions for midfield reinforcements after the lack of adequate quality in that position has set them off to a torrid 22/23 season, where they are already out of the title race and the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool are also staring at missing out on a top four finish after injuries to key midfielders and underperformance of others. Jurgen Klopp has right away instructed the club hierarchy to bring in new midfielders, after signing just one in last two-and-a-half-years in Thiago Alcantara. And Flamengo’s Joao Gomes is a profile which has been doing rounds at Anfield, as well as other potential suitors in the Premier League.

Gomes expresses his strong desire to play for Liverpool

Joao Gomes has earned himself the interest of Liverpool over the last 12 months, as well as their fellow Premier League rivals Newcastle United. The Magpies have experienced a turnaround like no their club since the appointment of Eddie Howe as their manager. They currently sit third in the Premier League and are a significant seven points above Liverpool who sit sixth [with a game in hand].

Both the giants are eyeing a move for Gomes, who reportedly has a release clause of £52m in his current Flamengo contract which runs until the summer of 2027. He even played a key role in his side’s Copa Libertadores triumph, missing just one of the 13 games and starting 10 of the 12 games he was available for. In all, he made 63 appearances for the club last season, scoring 2 goals and assisting as many. Gomes, who is often likened to his countryman and one of the greatest midfielders Casemiro, told ESPN:

Liverpool can sense an advantage here as the player himself wants to play for them. Gomes has been tagged as the next big talent coming out of Brazil, and the world knows Brazilian talent seldom fails to deliver. However, its not only the Magpies who are tracking the 21-year-old, Liverpool’s fierce rivals Manchester United too are known to have keeping an eye on him.

And as the midfielder admit, his ultimate dream is the Champions League. At the moment however, Liverpool are not in the position who can guarantee him the elite European competition next season. Newcastle and Manchester United are better placed at third and fourth respectively who can lure him with the European top-tier tournament. On the contrary, its Liverpool who need as many new and talented midfielders as they can get to avoid the decline in their dominance.

Klopp is having to make do with the likes of James Milner [37], Jordan Henderson [32], Thiago Alcantara [31] and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Arthur Melo whose futures are uncertain at the club. They already lost the highly talented Aurelien Tchouameni last summer to Real Madrid, and cannot afford wither of Newcastle or Manchester United to pip them to Gomes’ signing now. While they are also pursuing the in-demand Jude Bellingham, Liverpool need to make a quick decision on the Brazilian as well who rather is more attainable.