Manchester United and Arsenal are circling the same young winger from FC Porto, and the bidding war hasn’t even officially started. William Gomes, a 20-year-old Brazilian who looks like he was built in a lab for modern wide play, has drawn interest from at least six clubs across Europe. According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the list includes United, Arsenal, Newcastle, Roma, Atletico Madrid and Juventus. So yeah, it’s getting crowded.
Gomes joined Porto from Sao Paulo in January 2025 for about €9 million. That was a steal. Now Porto is willing to sell for around €45 million (£38.7 million), which is still a lot less than his €80 million release clause. The math here is pretty simple: buy now or watch the price double in 18 months.
His numbers last season? 13 goals and 2 assists. Not insane, but solid for a 20-year-old who can play either wing. He’s direct, two-footed in attack even if his finishing isn’t always clean, and he loves to take on defenders one-on-one. Scouts are calling him explosive. That’s the kind of word that gets transfer departments excited.
Why United needs this more than Arsenal
Michael Carrick’s side finished third last season, which was real progress. But third place doesn’t win trophies. United’s attack still feels predictable at times. Too much passing around the box, not enough guys just driving at defenders and making something happen. Gomes fits that gap. He’s not a finished product — he’s raw in decision-making and has never played in the Premier League — but that’s exactly why he’s available at €45 million instead of €90 million.
United have a history of waiting too long on young talent. They watch a player develop somewhere else, then pay triple once he’s obvious. This would be the opposite. Buy the potential, coach it up, hope it turns into inevitability.
Arsenal’s interest makes sense too
Mikel Arteta’s squad is deeper, but they’ve also spent heavily on proven stars. Andrea Berta, Arsenal’s recruitment chief, knows the value of getting in early. Gomes could develop for a year behind Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, then step into a bigger role. That’s a different pitch than United, where he’d have a clearer path to minutes but less stability.
Newcastle is lurking too. They’ve been aggressive with young talent and have the cash to move fast. Juventus, Roma and Atletico bring the European prestige card. This is not just an English auction.
For United, the question is whether they can sell a clear vision. Gomes needs playing time, good coaching and a real plan. If he gets that at Old Trafford, €45 million looks like smart business. If he ends up buried on the bench or bouncing between positions, it’s just another expensive what-if.
Right now, the race is wide open. And in this market, the first club to commit usually wins.
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