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Everton are reportedly hoping to sign Barcelona loanee Andre Gomes on a permanent deal next summer, but their arch-rivals Liverpool should hijack any move.

What's the word, then?

Well, The Liverpool Echo report that the blue half of Merseyside want to bring the impressive 25-year-old to Goodison Park permanently, and won't be put off by the €100m (around £90m) release clause inserted into his contract by the La Liga giants.

Summer signing Yerry Mina had a similar fee written into his but the Toffees hierarchy negotiated a £27m fee for him according to The Liverpool Echo, and they obviously feel that they can bring the Portugal international in for a price that won't break the bank.

Gomes only moved to the Camp Nou from Valencia in a €35m deal in the summer of 2016, but despite making 78 appearances in all competitions he was shipped out by Ernesto Valverde.

Why should Liverpool move for him?

The 25-year-old may have only made six Premier League appearances for Everton thus far having been absent at the start of the season because of injury, but he has already made a huge impression.

The Portuguese star is comfortable in possession and when he has the ball in tight spaces, while he always looks to make that incisive forward pass – something the likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum often struggle with – and isn't afraid of a tackle.

While he may have that €100m release clause, the Toffees showed with their deal for Mina that it means little if Barcelona are keen to offload one of their players, and that appears to be the case in this instance.

Jurgen Klopp may have an abundance of midfield options right now, but if he wants quality rather than depth then he should make a move for Gomes.

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