Man United make contact with £38m Joao Gomes after Atletico Madrid deal collapses

Manchester United have made contact with Joao Gomes over a potential transfer after the Wolves midfielder’s move to Atletico Madrid collapsed, according to Brazilian outlet O Globo.

The 25-year-old was all but set to join Atletico for £38m, but the deal unravelled after his agent Jorge Mendes reportedly prioritised brokering Bernardo Silva’s move to Real Madrid. Atletico, angered that their bitter rivals had taken precedence in Mendes’ schedule, pulled out of the agreement. United have since made contact, though Liverpool are also understood to be interested in the Brazilian.

Gomes arrives on United’s radar as manager Michael Carrick searches for midfield reinforcements ahead of the new Premier League season. The club’s engine room has been a concern since Casemiro’s departure, and a separate deal to sign Atalanta’s Ederson — expected to cost around £35m — is now in doubt following contradictory reports about its status.

Gomes shone throughout a difficult campaign for Wolves, earning both the official Player of the Season award from supporters and the vote of his fellow squad members, even as the club were relegated from the Premier League.

With the Ederson situation unresolved, Carrick is also reportedly considering a tactical solution from within his existing squad. According to The Sun, the United boss may redeploy Mason Mount in a deeper midfield role, a significant shift for a player who joined from Chelsea in 2023 for an initial £55m as a forward-thinking playmaker. Mount returned for pre-season last week, and Carrick is said to value his work rate and versatility after encouraging performances at the end of last season.

Elsewhere, goalkeeper Karl Darlow is expected to sign as back-up cover, while midfielder Andrey Santos’ move from Chelsea is also set to be confirmed. Santos’ arrival, however, is not considered a full solution to the midfield gap Carrick is working to fill — making the pursuit of Gomes all the more significant as the window progresses.