Everton will now let Andre Gomes leave Goodison Park in a Bosman transfer in 2024 as ‘everything indicates’ they will see their injury-hit midfielder move on as a free agent.
That is according to Sport, which reports that Gomes has no future at Everton and does not count for Sean Dyche. The 30-year-old is still yet to feature this season after suffering a calf injury this August. It will likely prove to be the final nail in the coffin of his Merseyside career.
Gomes made the bench for Everton’s opening-day defeat at home to Fulham after returning from a season away on loan. He also received regular minutes under Dyche over pre-season. But despite making progress in his rehabilitation, a return to action is not very forthcoming.
‘Everything indicates’ Gomes will leave Everton in a free transfer
Dyche explored what Gomes could offer his Everton squad this summer after Frank Lampard cast the Portuguese aside last season. Gomes fell out of favour under the previous regime at Goodison Park. But his spell for LOSC Lille helped the midfielder recapture some of his form.
Life in Ligue 1 often afforded the 29-cap international regular game time with 26 outings. He further scored three goals and laid on two assists in the French top-flight after starting in 18 matches. It was a welcome run after starting just seven Premier League matches in 2021/22.
Dyche does not know when Gomes will return from a calf injury
An injury has again blighted Gomes this term, though, and ‘everything indicates’ he will now leave Everton next June. The Toffees’ £22m transfer from Barcelona in June 2019 will be out of contract at the end of the season. He joined on a £120k-a-week deal after a term on loan.
Everton had rejected one chance to offload Gomes at the finale of the past summer transfer window. Marc Mechenoua of Le Parisien claimed on deadline day that Lille made a last-gasp effort to seal another deal. But his return to Ligue 1 hinged on Dyche sealing a replacement.
Now, Dyche does not know when he will welcome a player Mason Holgate once called ‘class’ back from injury. The Everton boss admits Gomes still faces a while on the sidelines, despite returning to the grass pitches at Finch Farm in recent weeks, owing to his ongoing calf injury.
“He has been on for about 10 days,” Dyche has noted, via the Liverpool Echo. “He is working hard and pushing himself. At first, he had to be very tentative. It’s been really tough for him.”
