According to GiveMeSport’s transfer reporter Dean Jones, Tottenham are “targeting” Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes.
The paper reports that Spurs are still in the market for a dynamic midfielder, which coincides with a report from The Athletic earlier this summer.
Gomez, 23, joined Wolves from Brazilian club Flamengo in January 2023 and has impressed for the West Midlands side.
Gomez is not strictly a defensive midfielder, but he is a very tenacious midfielder, averaging 3.8 tackles per game in the Premier League last season.
For comparison, the highest average number of tackles made by a Spurs player last season was Yves Bissouma, who averaged 2.9, almost one per game less than Gomez, and in a win against Brentford last winter, Gomez made 10 tackles in 90 minutes (SofaScore).
The midfielder made his Brazil debut against England in March this year and started all four of Brazil’s matches in the Copa America over the summer.
However, Gomez has four years left on his contract with Wolves. John Percy, a respected journalist at The Telegraph, has said that Wolves’ remaining transfer budget is £20 million, despite selling Pedro Neto and Max Kilman. As such, Wolves may feel they need to sell players to get the ones they want. This could work to Tottenham’s advantage.
Spurs fans are desperate for a defensive midfielder and Gomez’s aforementioned tenacity may be just what they need in midfield.
He would have put out some of the firepower Leicester City caused on Monday, and his general energy, ability to cover space and get going would make him a perfect fit for Ange Postecoglou’s team.
He scored two goals in Tottenham’s 2-1 home defeat to Wolves in February and, even if he doesn’t make it on the move, he’s unlikely to do that again at least.
Whatever happens, the final 10 or so days of the summer transfer window are set to be interesting.