Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, is faced with a significant issue and may resort to a close ally of Mason Greenwood.
It was always going to take more than two summer transfer windows for Erik ten Hag to assemble a Manchester United team that could flawlessly carry out his exact tactical vision. He has spent $138.5 million on midfielders, for instance, since his arrival last year, and there is still a glaring need for more improvements.
Ten Hag is still on the lookout for midfielders who match his high-energy, press-resistant style as he works to make United the best transition team in football. Both Sofyan Amrabat and Mason Mount meet those criteria.
However, Casemiro, who joined United in a £70 million deal only in August after United unsuccessfully pursued Frenkie de Jong, a player with a completely different style, for the entire summer, is also past his prime, as are Christian Eriksen.
At Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes, Scott McTominay, Fred, and Donny van de Beek were already present. However, Ten Hag sold Fred and also displayed McTominay and Van de Beek in the store window while making Fernandes his captain.
Hope for the future can be found in Hannibal Mejbri and Kobbie Mainoo’s ascent through United’s academy belt. But given that his midfield continues to appear disorganized, Ten Hag needs starting quality right away.
By looking into the potential of bringing one of the club’s most promising academy graduates back to M16, he might be able to achieve exactly that.
Six-year-old Angel Gomes entered through the door. At age 13, he competed for United at the U17 level. Just one year later, he was a member of the U18s.
At Man Utd, Angel Gomes was bound for success.(Photo: Getty)
Gomes won the renowned Jimmy Murphy Youth Team Player of the Year award in May 2017. He participated in practice with Jose Mourinho’s first team the following day.
Soon after, Gomes, who was 16 years and 263 days old, took Wayne Rooney’s place in the 88th minute of United’s 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. In doing so, he became the team’s youngest player since Duncan Edwards.
Gomes was meant to be a great for United, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s lack of senior opportunities led to a sad departure in 2020.
The skilled midfielder spent 14 years with the Red Devils before deciding against re-signing his deal and joined Lille on a free transfer.
Gomes, now 23, has since explained his emotional departure, admitting his despair at leaving his boyhood club after showing so much promise.
“Whenever someone inquires about how difficult it was to leave, I attempt to explain. But I still don’t believe they fully get. Gomes said to SPORTBIBLE, “I was literally in pieces.
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“Everything was fine as I was bidding the squad farewell. Naturally, I was a little upset, but as I was leaving the practice field, I happened to run into James Garner and Teden Mengi, two players I had grown up playing with.
Mason Greenwood, another exciting talent to emerge from United’s development ranks, is just one year older than Gomes, and The Athletic claims that during the course of their respective ascents, Gomes served as a sibling figure to Greenwood.
Greenwood has also left Old Trafford, spending the current campaign on loan at Getafe with little chance of carrying on his United career upon his return.
But for Gomes, going back to his old team might help Ten Hag make a big step toward having a midfield that rivals his well-oiled engine at Ajax.
The England U21 player, who has 18 caps and is vying for a spot in Gareth Southgate’s senior team, has reached his full potential in France.
After spending the 2020/21 season on loan at Portuguese side Boavista, Gomes has since established himself as a regular starter at Lille.
He has made 80 appearances over the last two seasons – and the start of the current campaign – thriving as a defensive midfielder despite his 5ft 6in frame.
Gomes has good ball skills and would be a good addition to Ten Hag’s midfield. He has demonstrated agility and composure in possession, dispelling concerns about his ability to fulfill the physical requirements of the Premier League.
With a persistent creator like Mount or Fernandes in front, having a destroyer like Amrabat or a younger replacement alongside him might be a winning strategy.
Given the sad nature of his departure three years ago, Gomes would probably be interested in joining Ten Hag’s initiative if he is set up for a big position.
In the event that Gomes maintains his upward trend once his contract at Lille expires in 2025, it is unquestionably a route worth investigating next summer.
