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https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...ert-loan-deal-to-permanent-contract-z3h825g5x
Everton believe Andre Gomes wants to convert loan deal to permanent contract
Everton are hoping that Andre Gomes’ unwillingness to return to Barcelona will help to drive down his price as they try to secure his permanent transfer.
The Portugal midfielder cost a £2 million loan fee when joining in August and has impressed with his range of skills, catching the eye in Sunday’s Merseyside derby despite his side’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Gomes endured an unhappy spell over two years at the Nou Camp following a £29 million move from Valencia and claimed the pressure he felt under turned his stay into a “kind of hell”.
Everton believe that the 25-year-old does not want to go back to the Catalan club and hope that Gomes’ desire to remain at Goodison Park will help discussions over the coming months. There is no immediate rush to conclude a deal, however, with Gomes’ loan deal running until the summer.
Marcel Brands, Everton’s director of football, said Barcelona’s asking price was too expensive in the summer only for them to relent and sanction a temporary switch. Sources in Spain indicate that Barcelona would seek their money back.
As well as a deal for Gomes, Marco Silva, the Everton manager, knows he needs a proven striker to propel his side to the next level. The likes of Morgan Schneiderlin and Oumar Niasse could be sold in January as the careful overhaul of Everton’s squad continues.
Everton host Newcastle United tomorrow with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford sure to be barracked by the away supporters following his error which gifted a 96th-minute winner to Liverpool striker Divock Origi.
Pickford has clashed with Newcastle fans before, notably when tweeting, “Get the rave on” when they were relegated and his former club Sunderland stayed in the Premier League in 2016.
The message also adorned the side of his Nike boots when he represented England at the World Cup last summer.
The 24-year-old apologised for his aberration against Liverpool and team-mate Michael Keane believes he has the mental strength to recover.
“We feel for Jordan, he’s been absolutely brilliant for us and he’s got a bit of bad luck there,” said the defender. “He’ll be fine. He is one of the mentally strongest players I know.”
