Lille remain keen on potentially signing Everton midfielder Andre Gomes on a permanent basis following his loan deal this season, but a deal is moving ‘at a snail’s pace’.
That’s according to Le 11 Lillois, who say it is ‘not impossible’ that a deal is struck between the two clubs, but it will be complicated.
They explain that Gomes proved to be a key player for Paulo Fonseca’s side last summer when it was made clear he was not a part of Everton’s plans.
He proved to be worth the outlay on him, with him arriving as the biggest earner in the squad despite Everton paying half of his wages.
The loan is widely considered as a success and they’d be happy to have him back, although that is seen as ‘unlikely but not impossible’ at this point.
He is an option that those in charge at Lille are looking at, but the potential deal is ‘progressing at a snail’s pace’ in that regard because Everton’s position ‘remains complex to define’.
What that means exactly isn’t made clear but it’s likely that Everton’s position on the matter is hard for Lille to reach at this moment in time.
The Blues are likely unwilling to sanction a second loan deal given the player’s contract expires next summer so they’d effectively be giving him out on a free. They’re also likely to be unwilling to pay half of his wages again even if they can work out a loan deal.
Lille do want something sorted, though, and a report earlier this month made that clear when it labelled him a ‘priority’ signing for the French side.
There’s certainly a deal there to be done but as always, seems to be stuck between the differing valuations that both clubs are likely putting on the Portuguese midfielder.
