Angel gomes has been linked with a move to Barcelona (Getty Images)
According to The Sun, Manchester United have offered forward Angel Gomes a £30,000-a-week deal in a bid to stop him leaving for free in the summer.
The 19-year-old’s current contract with the club is set to expire at the end of the season, and a number of Premier League clubs including Chelsea are keen on landing him. However, United are not interested in letting go of one of their prized academy products. To that end, they have offered a new deal to extend his stay at Old Trafford. (h/t The Sun)
United hope that their new deal involving £30,000-a-week plus additional bonuses for appearances, goals, and trophies won would be reason enough to tie down the young midfielder. Gomes currently earns £17K-a-week, despite making just six appearances across all competitions for the senior side this season.
Meanwhile, until the arrival of Bruno Fernandes in January, United had struggled to find a consistent playmaker, who could help them improve their performances. The poor form of United’s attacking midfielders Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard had forced the United hierarchy to look for better options, with Fernandes’ finally landing at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese playmaker has been an instant hit since his arrival, scoring two goals and giving three assists from five league appearances. His excellent displays have seen him nail down a starting role in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in the latter half of the season.
Despite Lingard and Pereira’s inconsistency and United’s struggles with injuries, Gomes didn’t get many opportunities this term. This had forced the youngster to reject a £20,000-a-week new contract offered by the Red Devils back in January.
Though United have found an answer to their attacking woes in the form of Fernandes, Lingard and Pereira’s form remains a major concern for the club. The Red Devils do not have many options in that role and Gomes could be an excellent back-up for Fernandes.
Moreover, veteran Juan Mata turned 32 last month. The Spaniard is clearly a shadow of his past. Pereira, on the other hand, has failed to impress despite featuring in 23 league matches this term.
Also, with the likes of academy graduates Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams breaking into the first-team line-up this season, United should back Gomes also follows a similar path. A regular within their reserves, Gomes can also save United from spending unnecessarily in the market. Hence, their decision to offer a new deal to Gomes is a step in the right direction.
Gomes fits into the mould of young homegrown talent that Solskjaer is keen on working with. And, he has been knocking on the first-team doors for a while now. Moreover, he is still in his teens and can develop his game more under Solskjaer’s guidance. The Red Devils just need to offer him more chances, especially considering the poor form of Lingard and Pereira.
