In a surprising new development at Goodison Park, Sean Dyche has openly vetoed the scheduled transfer exit of Everton midfielder Andre Gomes.
On September 13, FotoMac reported that the midfielder was likely to leave Goodison Park for the ükrü Saracolu Stadium in a £4.3 million deal as Fenerbache attempted to improve their defensive midfield options ahead of the Turkish transfer deadline on Friday.
However, Liverpool Echo journalist Joe Thomas tweeted Dyche’s statements from his press conference on Friday on his own Twitter account on 15 September, confirming that Gomes is a crucial part of his plans in a sudden and unexpected u-turn.
On September 14, Turkish news outlet Sporx reported that Gomes’ planned move to Fenerbache had hit a snag, with a deal now hanging in the balance.
Gomes was named to the club’s 25-man Premier League squad, and Dyche has stated that he hopes to have him available for the remainder of the season.
“It’s unlikely,” he replied. He’s had a string of misfortunes, and I want him to be a part of what we accomplish. He is a fantastic football player. I believe he will arrive by the end of the day.
“I really hope he is.”
Just when it appeared like all Goodison Park hope for the 30-year-old Portuguese international had been dashed, Dyche has made a spectacular U-turn on Gomes’ future after many reports in recent weeks suggested that the former Burnley boss did not view him as part of his plans.
What a difference a couple of weeks can make in football, as it now appears Gomes will not be leaving Goodison Park this summer, despite being expected to do so for some time.
Gomes hasn’t played in front of the Everton fans in almost a year, with his last Premier League game being against Crystal Palace on home soil in May 2022 [Transfermarkt], and that could continue for the foreseeable future.
The 29-year-old Portuguese international had a good loan stay at LOSC Lille, appearing in 26 Ligue 1 games, scoring three goals and contributing two assists.
Such a spell has now proven to be a significant influence in Dyche’s new choice, with Gomes undoubtedly possessing all of the traits required to strengthen Everton’s midfield options this season.
Despite his problems at the club, Gomes did have some productive games in front of the Everton fans, and his statistics over the last year suggest a player who is perfectly capable of thriving at the highest level with excellent footballers.
Over the past 365 days, Gomes ranks in the 95th percentile for progressive passes per 90 among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, the 92nd percentile for successful take-ons, the 93rd percentile for pass completion percentage, and the 98th percentile for touches in the middle third, highlighting how important he could be to Dyche’s philosophy at Goodison Park.
Gomes is a technically brilliant outlet, as evidenced by his stats, with tremendous composure, weight of throw, and great vision, and he may be the difference maker on a team lacking in well-rounded players in the center.
A January exit is still possible for the 29-year-old Portuguese international, but just when many Everton fans believed his time on Merseyside was coming to an end, his tale in Toffees colours is far from over.
In other Everton news, a fresh player stance on a prospective free transfer move to Goodison Park has emerged.
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