Exclusive: Bournemouth Lead Chase for Angel Gomes as Marseille Exit Looms

Premier League club Bournemouth are set to rival clubs in Italy and Germany for the signing of former Manchester United prospect Angel Gomes, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

Gomes is poised to leave French Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille before the January transfer window closes in search of regular playing time. 

The 25-year-old has fallen down the pecking order under Roberto De Zerbi, with the Italian coach favouring Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Matt O’Riley, Arthur Vermeen, and Bilal Nadir in the holding midfield roles ahead of him.

His situation has been further complicated by the arrivals of Quinten Timber and Ethan Nwaneri, along with the imminent signing of Hamid Abdelli from Angers. Gomes has featured for just eight minutes across Marseille’s last four Ligue 1 matches, making a January exit increasingly likely.

Marseille could also benefit financially from a departure, as Gomes arrived on a free transfer, and his sale could help offset the club’s significant summer investments.

Bournemouth are also gearing up for a January transfer showdown with Newcastle United over Toulouse defender Dayann Methalie. The 23-year-old has quickly emerged as one of Ligue 1’s most promising young defenders. Both Premier League sides are keen to bolster their defenses, leaving Toulouse with a tough task in holding on to their rising star as the winter transfer window intensifies.

Gomes at Marseille

Gomes joined Marseille after his contract at Lille expired, reuniting with former Manchester United teammate Mason Greenwood. He initially made a strong impression at the club, appearing in 14 Ligue 1 matches and scoring three goals, including the decisive strike in a 1-0 win at Auxerre.

In November, ahead of Marseille’s Champions League clash with Newcastle United, Gomes spoke about his ambition to secure a World Cup spot with England under Thomas Tuchel. Achieving that goal will require consistent playing time and standout performances—something a move away from Marseille could provide.

Bournemouth have emerged as frontrunners in the race for Gomes, moving quickly to bring the Manchester United academy graduate back to England before the February 2 transfer deadline, as rivals in Serie A and the Bundesliga look on.