Some Crystal Palace fans may not have heard that Matt Hobbs is the new Director of Football.
The Englishman replaced Dougie Freedman back in August – having left Wolves in June – and has already used his connections at Molineux to bring Jorgen Strand Larsen to Selhurst Park.
Now – according to ESPN – Hobbs is trying to sign another Wolves player for Crystal Palace in Joao Gomes after the Old Gold were officially relegated from the Premier League.
Crystal Palace battling Atletico Madrid for Joao Gomes
Respected South American journalist Bruno Andrade now claims that Crystal Palace want the Brazil international as Wolves look to cash in on some of their best players following relegation.
Gomes – who Wolves paid £15m to sign from Flamengo in January 2023 – is adored at Molineux, where he has made 126 appearances in total and was named Supporters’ Player of the Season for the 2024/25 campaign.
ESPN add Atletico Madrid are also keen on the Brazilian, so it will be tough for Crystal Palace to fend off the UEFA Champions League semi-finalists, although with Hobbs working on the deal, the Eagles may well have a chance.
It is not made clear how much Wolves want for Gomes, but considering the South American is only 25 and has a contract running until July 2030, those at Molineux are in a strong negotiating position.
Monday’s 0-0 draw against West Ham proved Crystal Palace need at least one fresh face in midfield as Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma, who has admirers in Turkey, struggled to create chances.
The Eagles like Kodai Sano – according to the Daily Mail – and already made a bid for the NEC Nijmegen midfielder in January amid fears Adam Wharton may leave this summer.
Therefore, Gomes and Sano could well represent the future of Crystal Palace’s midfield department if deals for both materialise this summer.
