Man Utd suffer huge £35m transfer setback as player set to join rivals

Joao Gomes to Aston Villa: The shocking £35m twist

Joao Gomes to Aston Villa: Unai Emery has done it again. Just as Manchester United looked poised to finally get their man, Aston Villa have swept in from the wings, hijacked the deal, and snatched Joao Gomes from under their noses. It is a rapid, ruthless piece of transfer business.

According to reports originating from the Birmingham Mail and carried by the Manchester Evening News, the combative Brazilian has already packed his bags and left Wolverhampton Wanderers’ pre-season training camp. The medical is scheduled. The £35 million fee is agreed.

Why the Brazilian fits Emery’s system

Amadou Onana’s devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury at the World Cup left a massive, gaping hole in the Villa midfield. They needed immediate steel. They needed a proven Premier League engine. Gomes is exactly that.

He was absolutely relentless for Wolves last term. 35 league appearances. Over 2,800 minutes on the pitch. While a return of one goal and a single assist might not set the world alight, his defensive metrics are staggering. He racked up 107 tackles, snapping into challenges and breaking up play with terrifying efficiency.

Now, instead of Europa League football, he is heading straight for the Champions League stage. He will essentially step into the squad vacancy left by Youri Tielemans, who made the move to Old Trafford earlier this summer for an identical £35m fee.

Scorzo’s opinion: Another Old Trafford midfield disaster

For Michael Carrick, this is a bitter pill to swallow. United originally targeted Gomes back in 2024, only to drag their feet. When Ederson subsequently failed his medical, the Old Trafford hierarchy scrambled back to the Wolves man. They were too slow.

Gomes joins an incredibly frustrating list of midfield targets, including Mateus Fernandes, Elliot Anderson, and Sandro Tonali, who have looked at the project at Old Trafford and decided to go elsewhere.

United are now desperately short. Casemiro has departed. Manuel Ugarte is facing a lengthy spell on the treatment table. This leaves Carrick with just three recognised defensive midfielders, including young Kobbie Mainoo, to navigate a tough campaign across four competitions.

Read: Done Deal – Man Utd complete signing of world-class midfielder

This swoop is a massive statement of intent from Villa. While Manchester United faffed about and hesitated, Emery’s recruitment team moved with absolute precision. They recognised the emergency, identified the solution, and paid the money. United have paid the ultimate price for their dithering, leaving Carrick with a severely depleted midfield engine room before the season has even kicked off.