Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa can finally reunite with Ibai Gomez, as Mundo Deportivo understands Deportivo Alaves are preparing to lose the Spanish winger in January before his contract expires.
What’s the word?
Bielsa and Gomez worked together at Athletic Bilbao, and the now 29-year-old starred under the Argentine as they reached the Europa League Final in 2012.
On course to the final, where they lost to Atletico Madrid 3-0, Gomez found the net twice and went on to be a key figure for Alaves since arriving on a free transfer in 2016 – regularly contributing as a set-piece expert and playing a role in their escape from relegation last season.
Leeds were claimed to have approached Alaves for Gomez’s services with multiple offers in the summer, but to no avail, yet the La Liga side are now understood to be more open to his exit as the winger’s contract continues to wind down.
To avoid losing Gomez for free in the summer, Mundo Deportivo are reporting Alaves will consider offers below his €10million release clause – which could see a deal struck to something nearer to his TransferMarkt valuation of £4.5m.
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Could it happen?
Alaves and Gomez have been embroiled in on-going negotiations all season, but the club and player have not yet been able to meet on personal terms.
Both parties are understood to have wanted a new deal, but further problems were thrown in via Gomez’s good performances in blue and white for Babazorros.
From the right-hand side of midfield, Gomez has contributed to five goals – scoring three, assisting a further two – and was El Glorioso’s Man of the Match in back to back fixtures against Real Valladolid and Rayo Vallecano.
A solid offer in January may be enough to tempt Deportivo Alaves into allowing his departure before his stock becomes too high to tie him down to a new deal, rather than risk losing Gomez for free at the end of the season.
Leeds are in need of further creative options in midfield have recently lost Samuel Saiz, with the Spanish architect allowed to return to Madrid before a loan move to Getafe commences in the New Year. Gomez would certainly go a long way to replacing Saiz and help maintain Leeds’ push for automatic promotion.
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