Everton are working on both fronts, to sign new players that can enhance squad quality, and also offload high wage earners that are not an integral part of the team. Frank Lampard has already sanctioned the departure of Dele Alli. Andre Gomes could also be in the same boat.
The Portuguese midfielder arrived from Barcelona, initially on loan in the 2018-19 season. Courtesy of his valiant showings, Everton paid £25 million to sign him permanently. In the last few years, the fans have rarely seen that version of Gomes who was technically sound and had the knack of joining the attack and creating chances.
Last season, Gomes missed 17 Premier League games because of injuries, making just 14 appearances. The Portuguese midfielder earns £100,000+ per week if Sportac’s estimations are correct. It is a huge sum of money for someone who isn’t an integral part of the team. Lampard has often seen him as a squad player and prefers others over the former Barcelona man.
The arrival of Amadou Onana and the potential incomings of Mohammed Kudus and Idrissa Gueye will make it really difficult for Gomes to scrape through and enter Lampard’s plans on a regular basis. Everton would instead consider offloading Gomes to save a ton of money in the wage budget.
Everton midfielder Andre Gomes on AS Roma radar
The 28 year old was loosely linked with a return to La Liga but those rumours soon died down. Now, Serie A side AS Roma have been mentioned as an interested party in the Portuguese. According to Tutto Mercato Web, Roma are searching for a Georginio Wijnaldum replacement who suffered a broken leg injury, ruling him out for months.
Jose Mourinho and Tiago Pinto are considering names, with first preference being Mady Camara of Olympiakos. Among other names are Everton’s Gomes, Chelsea’s Ross Barkley and Leicester City’s Boubakary Soumare.
The Toffees are trying to sell Gomes and Everton’s soft stance could mean that the 28 year old will be available for a reasonable price. It is unlikely that the Blues will recoup the £25 million spent on the midfielder.
Everton will take a heavy loss but the silver lining is that the Toffees will be able to save £5.8 million per season in wages. With the new incomings, the wage budget is stretching and sooner or later space will have to be made in the wage budget and also in the squad.