United make last-minute decision on signing £44m midfield warrior before deadline day – report

Manchester United have taken a firm stance regarding a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes this month. The Red Devils removed Ruben Amorim from the hot seat at Old Trafford at the beginning of this year and appointed Michael Carrick in a caretaker role until the end of the season. The English manager has overseen a mini-resurgence at the Theatre of Dreams, winning his first two games against Manchester City and Arsenal. Carrick’s tactics have injected a shot of confidence into a struggling team, and they are now firing on all cylinders. The Red Devils have subsequently stormed into the top four, igniting hopes of securing Champions League football next season. While even a fifth-placed finish could secure qualification for the premier European club competition, United are unlikely to leave anything to chance, especially since Liverpool and Chelsea are breathing down their necks. As such, the Red Devils remain linked with squad reinforcements this month, especially since the right additions could boost their chances of a top-four finish. With concerns remaining about the midfield, the English giants have been linked with several potential candidates to strengthen the position, including Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Gomes. Wolves’ rising star Gomes has been a first-team regular for the Midlands club this season, registering 26 appearances in all competitions, including 22 starts. Joao Gomes Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League2220––7–1,758′ EFL Cup31–11–116′ FA Cup11––––61′ Total2622-18–1,935′ Source: Transfermarkt.Unfortunately, his efforts have failed to inspire Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table after 23 games. The situation has added to speculation regarding his future, and United have previously been backed to pick him up this month. With Manuel Ugarte struggling to impress, Gomes was tipped as a possible replacement for Casemiro, who has already announced his decision to leave once his contract expires this summer. The 24 year old has all the attributes to take his countryman’s place at Old Trafford, further igniting talk about a possible move this month to help Carrick’s charge for Champions League football. A previous report relayed by The Peoples Person states that the Red Devils are leading the race for the Brazilian, who could be available for £44 million. An update on the situation has now emerged. United unlikely to move for Gomes this month According to TEAMtalk, United have shelved their plans to sign Gomes this month. The report states: “They have been linked with the likes of Wilfried Ndidi and Ruben Neves as alternates – and in recent days the situation of Gomes is understood to have cropped up again.” “But United are expected to hold onto their cash for now and invest it at the end of this season instead… United believe the appointment of Michael Carrick has saved their season and they have faith that he can achieve Champions League football with the squad he has.” “As reported previously, Carrick himself is happy with the players he has at his disposal and will not be discouraged if no new faces arrive this window. Either way, they have been planning to let the situation play out and then go into the summer market in a major way.” Final Thoughts Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte are vying for the two midfield positions in the starting XI, while Bruno Fernandes has also operated in the deeper role earlier this season. As such, United could refrain from investing in the squad this month and reserve all their resources to fit their summer plans. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.