“My biggest dream…”: Manchester United target has already outlined one thing he must have for Old Trafford transfer

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Andre and Joao Gomes. (REUTERS/Tony O Brien)

Manchester United have not been shy about spending big in recent windows, and this past summer was no different.

Over £216 million was invested into reshaping the squad, with headline arrivals Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo transforming the attack.

The early signs have been promising. Rúben Amorim’s side are now five Premier League games unbeaten and look far more cohesive than the chaotic outfit of last season.

But the Portuguese coach is still keen to strengthen — and one of his next major targets could be a familiar face to Cunha.

Manchester United will have to meet one key condition if they want to lure João Gomes to Old Trafford — and the midfielder himself has already said what it is.

The Wolves star, signed from Flamengo in 2023, has now been added to United’s growing shortlist of midfield targets for 2026 as the club prepares for a major rebuild in the centre of the park.

According to The Daily Mail, Gomes is one of several names being monitored, alongside Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace.

Big changes are expected next summer. Casemiro’s contract is winding down, and Bruno Fernandes’ long-term future remains uncertain ahead of the World Cup. United also know they’ll be competing with Liverpool and Manchester City, both of whom are planning their own midfield refresh.

But United already know exactly what Gomes wants — because he said it himself.

Speaking back in 2022, when Liverpool were heavily linked with him during his Flamengo days, Gomes openly revealed the main factor behind any future move to a top European club: “Playing in the Champions League is my biggest dream in football.”

That ambition remains unchanged, and it represents both a challenge and an opportunity for Manchester United.

With United pushing to return to Europe’s elite under Amorim, securing Champions League football could be the decisive factor in convincing Gomes to join — giving the club yet another reason to keep their resurgence going.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.