OPINION
As Marco Silva begins his squad rebuild job at Everton he must look at Barcelona fringe player Andre Gomes.
The new Everton boss needs to do some serious business this summer, as he looks to undo the work of the previous manager Sam Allardyce and challenge for European football next season, but the Portuguese will want to play the right style of football to suit the club’s philosophy.
The only midfielder in the squad currently that fits the bill for his style is Iceland international Gylfi Sigurdsson, who they signed from Swansea last summer, but his favoured position is just behind the striker as he likes to get goals and push forward rather than controlling the tempo.
This is why the team needs a midfielder like Andre Gomes, who’s struggled to make an impact at Barcelona due to the number of world-class players in his position. He’s comfortable controlling the tempo and starting moves from midfield, being the link between defensive and attacking players, a role that’s so important for a side looking to play possession football.
The 24-year-old shone at his former club Valencia in that role, earning a big money move to the Camp Nou after showing real quality in his passing and dribbling during his time at the club. He also performed excellently in midfield for his national team at Euro 2016, with Portugal eventually winning the competition.
But with Barca spending big on ex-Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho and other midfield options over the past year, Gomes has been pushed right down the pecking order and made just six La Liga starts last season – meaning he should be available for a decent price.
His arrival at Everton would send a real message to the rest of the Premier League and would be a real boost in Silva’s bid to make the Toffees a real force in English football once again.