Barcelona ‘await offers’ from Everton for Gomes

Barcelona are said to be waiting for an offer from Everton to sign loanee André Gomes on a permanent basis.

Gomes, 25, moved to the Camp Nou from Valencia in July 2016 for a reported fee of €35 million, plus €20 million in add-ons, but joined the Toffees on a season-long loan deal in August after struggling to establish himself in Barcelona’s midfield.

A leg injury sustained in pre-season meant he did not make his Blues bow until mid-October, but Gomes has looked an inspired signing alongside Idrissa Gueye in central midfield and has started the last nine league games for Everton.

With many Evertonians hoping that the club extend Gomes’ stay at Goodison Park beyond the end of this season, Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported on Sunday, as cited by Sport Witness, that Barcelona anticipate a formal bid from the Toffees.

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There is no buyout clause in Gomes’ loan deal, though Everton paid a £2 million loan fee to the Catalan giants, having also signed central defender Yerry Mina and left-back Lucas Digne from Barcelona in the summer, both on permanent deals.

Though Gomes has, inevitably, been linked with moves to other clubs as well as Everton, including Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, he spoke last week about just how much he has enjoyed his time on Merseyside so far.

Everton director of football Marcel Brands spoke of his desire to tie Gomes down to a permanent contract at Goodison earlier this month, while team-mate Mina also said he hopes to see the Portuguese midfielder stay at the club.