Tottenham transfer blow as former Manchester United man inches towards Marseille switch

Tottenham have suffered a big setback in their pursuit of soon-to-be free agent Angel Gomes

Angel Gomes has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League this summer, with Tottenham Hotspur showing an interest in signing him.

The central midfielder is out of contract with LOSC Lille at the end of June and has had several clubs eager to sign him on a free transfer. The England international has confirmed he will leave Lille after five years, thereby, putting several clubs on red alert.

Described as a ‘phenomenal talent’, Angel Gomes left Manchester United to join Lille in 2020. He made 134 appearances for the French side, scoring 10 goals and registering 19 assists. According to reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, Spurs have tabled a contract offer for the diminutive midfielder and are increasingly confident that those terms will be accepted.

However, in a twist of events, it looks like the player is set to stay in France and not move back to England. According to an exclusive report from TBR Football, Marseille have beaten Tottenham to the signing of Gomes on a potential free transfer from Lille. He has given his consent to join Marseille, who secured Champions League football after finishing second in Ligue 1.

The Edmonton native had an up and down last season with Lille, managing only 20 appearances in total. This was down to a combination of injuries and dip in form, but the campaign prior, he caught the attention with two goals and 10 assists in 45 outings. However, at 24, Gomes is still relatively young and far from the best years of his career, and his decision to join Marseille should come as a big blow for Tottenham.

Yves Bissouma has entered the final year of his contract at N17. Due to his underwhelming displays over the last two seasons, Spurs have decided to cash in Bissouma this summer with Everton expected to enter the race for his signature. The Malian’s potential exit would leave a gap to fill in the squad, and Gomes could have been a smart option.

The England international has the technical ability to thrive in a possession-based, attacking system, which has been employed at Spurs by Ange Postecoglou. He had been a strong addition to their midfield unit, providing competition for the likes of Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr.

More Tottenham Hotspur News:

• Tottenham eyeing summer swoop for 22-year-old Everton star
• Opinion: Chelsea outcast could help Tottenham Hotspur unlock ‘Plan B’
• Ryan Mason backed to raid Tottenham for rising talent at West Bromwich Albion

But with Gomes having decided to stay in France and swap Lille from Marseille, the Hotspur chiefs must shift their focus elsewhere to bolster the midfield unit ahead of the 2025/26 season.