Everton are reportedly confident of pursuing the signature of Andre Gomes on a permanent basis from Barcelona this summer, despite the recent interest shown by Inter Milan.
Gomes joined the Toffees on a season-long loan from Barca before last summer’s transfer deadline but he had to wait until October to make his debut due to an ankle problem sustained in pre-season.
The Portugal international has since been ever-present for the Toffees with 21 starts and two substitute appearances in the Premier League, and his consistency has made him a real favourite among the Goodison Park faithful.
According to Catalan publication Sport, Everton remain the favourites to sign Gomes on a permanent basis in the summer, and a fee of around £21.7m (€25m) would be sufficient to prise him away from Camp Nou.
The publication adds that the club could face competition from Inter Milan for the Euro 2016 winner, although the Nerazzurri’s decision to wait until the summer could provide the Toffees with the edge.
Inter’s approach for the midfielder is said to depend on their qualification for next season’s Champions League, and the delay could play into the Toffees hands with the club keen to solve Gomes’s future at the earliest possibility.
Gomes has formed a brilliant partnership with Idrissa Gueye at the heart of the Toffees midfield this term, and he has taken up the role of linking up play with the forwards, while his teammate performs the tough-tackling duties.
As such, it appears crucial for Everton to keep hold of Gomes beyond the summer, particularly with Gueye’s future at the club hanging in the balance.
The Senegalese ace was denied a dream move to Paris Saint-Germain last winter and he has since indicated that he could push for a bigger challenge elsewhere with the aim of playing in the Champions League.
