West Ham are said to be chasing Lille duo Jonathan David and Angel Gomes, both of whom will be available on free transfers this summer.
It’s not often that transfer rumours get me genuinely excited, but this one has certainly grabbed my attention. While speculation linking David with a move to the London Stadium is nothing new, the addition of Gomes makes this rumour even more thrilling.
The 24-year-old Gomes was once tipped to be the next big thing from Manchester United’s academy. Although his time at Old Trafford didn’t pan out as expected, he has made a name for himself in France, with a short but impactful loan stint in Portugal along the way. Gomes even earned his England debut last September.
Gomes made history as United’s youngest player since Duncan Edwards when he was subbed on during their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. Just six months later, he signed his first professional contract.
Unfortunately, Gomes struggled for regular first-team opportunities at United and left having made just 10 senior appearances. He joined Lille on a five-year deal and was immediately loaned to Boavista, where he immediately impressed.
With both Tottenham and Manchester United rumoured to be interested, signing Gomes will be no easy task. However, Graham Potter is reportedly eager to bring the midfielder to East London. Based on what I’ve seen, Gomes would fit perfectly into Potter’s style of play and would likely be guaranteed a starting role at West Ham.
Gomes boasts incredible technical ability, a low centre of gravity, and the potential to become one of the Premier League’s best midfielders. Whether the Hammers can pull off this double coup remains to be seen, but securing players of the calibre of Gomes and David—especially on free transfers—would be nothing short of remarkable.
