Midfielder yet to decide on future at Everton

Everton have had a poor season so far but there have been some bright spots here and there. One of those highlights has been midfielder Andre Gomes who joined the Blues on loan from Barcelona on deadline day last summer.

There has been plenty of speculation over his future since then, with Premier League rivals Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur loosely mentioned with making a move for the player at the end of the season.

Director of Football Marcel Brands has indicated that he would wait until the end of the season to make the decision regarding converting the loan into a permanent deal, while Spanish media carried rumours recently that Brands would be on his way to Spain soon to have those discussions with Barca.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Gomes expressed his satisfaction with his spell at the Toffees.

“I have to say that I am really happy here. At the moment I am happy with everyone, [but] obviously I’m not so happy because as a club we want more.

”I am enjoying playing for Everton and enjoying my life here but I have to wait til the end of the season. I am one of the people who can decide the future but I am still a Barcelona player and I have to respect everybody.

”I will decide at the end of the season, but right now I am happy here.”

Everton have been wildly inconsistent this season, with the year encapsulated in the capitulation at Newcastle last weekend.

“The Premier League is hard. Sometimes you feel you are in control and in fact you’re not.

”Often small details change games and that has happened a few times this year, when you come from a defeat like that (Newcastle) it’s difficult to build confidence again.

”But Chelsea will be a good challenge to build that confidence back up again.”

He is excited to be playing in the Premier League though for the first time.

“Since I was a kid, I was watching games from the Premier League. I wanted to play here and have that experience, I am really happy here and the fans have been with me since day one.”

Speaking of the fans, he hoped that the Everton fans could turn Goodison Park into the same cauldron of noise they did for the recent Merseyside Derby on Sunday for Chelsea’s visit.

“It’s been a while since we have won against the top six and we have a good opportunity this weekend, 100 per cent.

”The atmosphere in the derby helped us, we have to invite the fans to create that atmosphere because it was really special for us.”