‘Pushing hard’: Utd and Spurs begin vying for 2025 free agent who Keane hailed as ‘pure quality’ | OneFootball

Manchester United are prepared to go head-to-head with Tottenham Hotspur this summer in pursuit of a star they produced.

Indeed, Angel Gomes is garnering widespread interest across Europe ahead of his Lille contract expiring in June, with Spurs, United, and West Ham among the English sides offering him a route back to the Premier League. The former, in particular, are said to be ‘pushing hard’ for a deal, as per TBR Football.

After opting against a new deal and leaving Old Trafford in 2020, the then-19-year-old secured exactly what he’d set out for: playing an integral role at the heart of a top club’s midfield. He spent a season on loan to gain experience in Portugal with Boavista before returning to France and becoming a mainstay for the Ligue 1 outfit.

Gomes was granted only 10 senior appearances for the Red Devils prior to his exit and left without making a Premier League start or registering a goal contribution.

A U21 Euros champion with England in 2023, Gomes was called upon by Lee Carsley when he succeeded Gareth Southgate as interim Three Lions boss last summer. The coach was quick to utilise the talents he’d worked with at youth level and called up the former Red to earn his first cap in September.

Gomes hailed as ‘pure quality’ by United fan-favourite

Gomes will be awaiting to see if he makes Thomas Tuchel’s first squad. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

When the young whiz registered his first goal contribution with an assist in England’s 3-1 win over Finland, he was singled out by Roy Keane for his stellar showing on the night.

“Yeah, a real bit of quality. A brilliant goal. If we saw France or Spain scoring a goal like this, we’d be praising him [Gomes]. But, yeah, nice and patient,” said Keane during ITV’s coverage.

“Here, England, Gomes obviously just do what you do, pass it forward, and he just seems to wander in there. Jack draws a few players over, which obviously helps him eventually when he gets in there.

“But this pass again, Trent [Alexander-Arnold], nice and simple. Sharp these couple of touches on Gomes and this last piece, honestly, I think pure quality, lovely and obviously Jack [Grealish] then finishes it off. But a really lovely bit of quality.”