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What would Barcelona’s Andre Gomes bring to Liverpool?
Fans of roller-coasters will be fully appreciating the Philippe Coutinho transfer saga, as contrasting reports continue to suggest that a deal is either dead in the water or on the verge of being sealed.
So, while claim that Liverpool have rejected an official £90 million offer from Barcelona for their Brazilian talisman, this is a potential transfer that is likely to run and run until the summer window closes.
One of the more interesting elements of the deal is the suggestion that Barca could use their Portuguese playmaker Andre Gomes as a makeweight to help conclude the deal.
The story, which first emerged in Spanish publication , suggests that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is an admirer of the Gomes and would welcome his arrival on Merseyside.
What would Gomes bring to the Liverpool side?
In the circumstances, it may seem as though Gomes would represent an underwhelming signing for Liverpool. Not only is he a deep-lying midfielder who would not serve as a direct replacement for the roving Coutinho, but he has also failed to impress during his time at Barca, with labelling him as the worst La Liga signing of the 2016/17 season.
Coupled with a disappointing series of displays in Portugal’s Euro 2016 success, you have a player that lacks the playing style or the pedigree to engage fans in the same way that Coutinho does.
This does not mean that he cannot be a good signing, particularly given Liverpool’s dearth of playmakers in the centre of the park and the enforced absence of Adam Lallana through injury.
In this respect, Gomes would provide a controlling and creative foil for more energetic and athletic midfielders such as Georginio Wijnaldum and captain Jordan Henderson, which may prove crucial when attempting to break down deep-lying defences at Anfield (something that the Reds struggled with last term).
Technically proficient and confident on the ball, Gomes also presses extremely well while his positional sense would suit Jurgen Klopp’s style of play down to the ground.
While he was hardly prolific in front of goal for Barcelona last season, nine goals in 78 appearances for Valencia during the two previous years suggest that he is more than capable of providing thrust and penetration from midfield.
Could Gomes soften the blow of losing Coutinho?
Whether Coutinho leaves Anfield is entirely open to conjecture at this stage, although we should expect Barca to return with an improved bid in the near future.
The potential use of Gomes as a makeweight certainly adds an interesting dimension to the deal, although it would be wrong to perceive him as a direct replacement for Coutinho or compare the two as individual talents.
The Portugal international is certainly a talented and accomplished footballer in his own right, while his skill-set would benefit a Liverpool midfield that lacked guile at times last season.
So while his signature would scarcely soften the blow of losing Coutinho to La Liga, it would provide the Reds with a player who could add significant value over the course of the season.