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The Man Utd trio who may have forced Angel Gomes to leave Old Trafford behind
Manchester United star Angel Gomes is poised to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer.
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Manchester United star Angel Gomes is set to leave Old Trafford on July 1. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted the 19-year-old has failed to agree a new deal with the Red Devils and, therefore, a parting of the ways is on the cards. And Jesse Lingard, Andreas Pereira and Juan Mata may be behind his thinking.
Manchester United had high hopes for Gomes, viewing the teenager as one of the standout names in their academy.
But Solskjaer, speaking ahead of the Red Devils’ Premier League showdown with Brighton on Tuesday, has admitted he’s now primed to leave.
Asked if Gomes would be leaving United, Solskjaer said: “To be honest, I have not heard from them last night or this morning.
“So it seems like they've not managed to agree, so the answer is probably short and 'yes' at the moment.
“I've got no news, so it doesn't look like it [that he will sign a new deal].”
For United, that’a a blow.
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While Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams are highly-rated behind the scenes Gomes has shone at academy level for a number of years.
Now, however, he’s set to leave it all behind. Chelsea and Barcelona are both keen on securing his signature and where he goes next remains to be seen.
But Lingard, Pereira and Mata may be behind his thinking.
Earlier in the season it was claimed that the teenager was frustrated by Solskjaer for repeatedly picking the trio ahead of him.
Given how they’ve fared this season, it’s easy to see why.
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Lingard was selected ahead of Gomes for United’s FA Cup win over Norwich on Saturday but the England international cut an insipid figure as the Red Devils narrowly battled their way into the semi-finals.
The 27-year-old has gone a whole year without a Premier League goal or assist to his name - something fans are fully aware of.
He was dire against Norwich but has still made more appearances than Gomes, who has been selected just six times this season.
Pereira, too, has left much to be desired.
The Brazilian has shown glimpses of his quality, impressing in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford back in October.
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But he’s not up to standards and is another who has been regularly selected by Solskjaer this season - much to Gomes’ detriment.
Regarding Mata, it’s clear the Spain international is past his best.
Gone are the days where he was the Red Devils’ chief creative force with the veteran, like Lingard, producing a poor performance against Norwich.
But he’s another who has limited Gomes to just six starts across all competitions.
Even if one of the trio leaves, it wouldn’t matter too much. The youngster would likely find Jack Grealish an even tougher player to edge out, with the Red Devils expected to sign the Aston Villa star.
For United, Gomes going is a shame. But, for him, it’s a bold decision he is hoping pays off in the long run.
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