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But sources close to the Spanish club, who are trying to sell Gomes to raise money for new signings, believe he is still headed for Goodison Park.

Portugal international Gomes was a revelation on loan at Everton last season and told he friends he wanted to make the move permanent before heading back to Barca.

But the Toffees have yet to make an official bid for the 25-year-old, who formed a formidable partnership with Idrissa Gueye in the Everton engine room.

It's understood the Merseyside club believe they are the player’s chosen destination and hope to use that to bring the asking price down.

Barcelona want close to £30m for Gomes, but Everton risk missing out with West Ham willing to pay at least £25m for him.

Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini is a big fan of Gomes, who has two years left on his contract but is surplus to requirements at the Nou Camp.

Gomes had an £88m release clause put into his contract when Barca signed him from Valencia for £30m plus add-ons in 2016.

But he is now among several players the Spanish giants hope to sell this summer, and has been made available for a fraction of that.

(Image: GETTY)

(Image: GETTY) (Image: GETTY)

West Ham signed their second goalkeeper in a week yesterday, bringing in free agent David Martin, who played for Millwall last season.

The 33-year-old, a boyhood Hammers fan, has signed a two-year deal with an option to extend.

He joins fellow arrival Roberto, a free transfer signing from Espanyol, at London Stadium.

West Ham also want to bring in a new striker with a clutch of players set to the leave club, but are currently out of the race for Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez.