OPINION
West Ham’s reported pursuit of Barcelona’s Andre Gomes would completely exile Mark Noble should they sign him in the summer.
According to The Times, the Hammers have made an offer of £18million for the midfielder, who spent the duration of last season on loan at Premier League rivals Everton.
The Portuguese international featured 29 times in all competitions for the Merseyside club last season, subsequently impressing Manuel Pellegrini so much so that West Ham have now made an offer for the midfielder.
However, although it may be a good signing for the Hammers, it would certainly have its repercussions regarding other players, in particular, Noble.
For the price of £18million, Pellegrini would be looking to bring the 25-year old in for the purpose of regularly being in the starting eleven, which would no doubt effect the potential Premier League game time of Noble, who featured 32 times in all competitions for the Hammers this season.
The £50,000-per week man (Source: Spotrac) would effectively be exiled, assuming that Gomes will be able to replicate the form shown this season under Marco Silva, and take it into next season under Pellegrini.
Gomes is seven years younger than Noble, and if he were to make the switch to the London Stadium he would no doubt be considered as a more long-term option for Pellegrini, which could again lead to Noble being pushed to the sidelines.
The argument still stands that the Englishman has been the more effective of the pair in regards to last season, scoring five and assisting five goals in the Premier League, which effectively dwarfs the tally registered by Gomes, who scored and assisted only once in the league for Everton.
However, if the Portuguese man were to be brought to the club in the summer window, there isn’t much doubt over the fact that he would play, which could prove to be disastrous for Noble in the long run and he surely sweating as a result.
