West Ham United have joined the race for Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes and have had an £18million bid rejected, according to Sky Sports.
The 25-year-old impressed during a season-long loan spell at Everton and the Toffees now face a fight to keep the playmaker at Goodison Park on a permanent basis.
The Portugal international has attracted interest from top Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, but West Ham have intended to steal the march for Gomes and appear to be undeterred by having an initial bid rejected.
Barcelona are keen to offload the midfielder this summer but want between £25m and £35m and the Hammers remain keen to land their man.
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini wants to strengthen his squad during the close season and to build on their 10th-place Premier League finish.
The board are prepared to back the Chilean in the transfer market and more funds could be added to the kitty as the Hammers boss prepares for an overhaul of the playing squad this summer.
Pellegrini is keen to add a cultured midfielder to his side for next season and Gomes fits the bill but they face stiff competitions from fellow Premier League sides.
Everton has first option on the Portuguese player and Toffees manager Marco Silva wants the club’s hierarchy to pull out all the stop to land the Barcelona man on a permanent basis.
Gomes made 29 appearances for the Merseyside outfit in all competitions, scoring once in the 3-1 home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in February.
West Ham should certainly up their offer for the Portugal international, who looks to have all the quality to be a star for the Hammers if a deal can be completed.