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Angel Gomes is already targeting a future transfer to Manchester United, four years after leaving the club as a free agent. The 24-year-old impressed in England’s midweek victory over Finland after making his senior debut last weekend against the Republic of Ireland. It comes after a prolonged spell of good form in Ligue 1 with Lille, helping Les Dogues qualify for this season’s Champions League. Gomes broke through at Manchester United and made his first-team debut against Crystal Palace aged just 16, replacing Wayne Rooney to become the club’s youngest debutant since Duncan Edwards in 1953. But excitement over the star’s future at the club evaporated and Gomes left the club on a free transfer in 2020 having made just ten first-team appearances. Gomes has found a new home at Lille and as well as becoming a fan favourite, he has become a key figure for the 2021 Ligue 1 champions. His time at Old Trafford may not have panned out the way he would have liked, but that has not stopped the star dreaming of a second stint at the club. Speaking to French sports Daily, L’Equipe last year, Gomes opened up on his decision to leave Manchester United and the possibility of returning in the future. “It was a very difficult decision, ” Gomes admitted. “In my heart, I wanted to leave, in my head, I was thinking of staying. But I had to follow my heart. I felt that I needed to take another step in my career. “I felt that had I stayed, there wouldn’t be a lot of opportunities for me. Luis Campos [ former Lille sporting director] and Lille spoke about their project and I believed in it even more, that’s what convinced me to move – the faith Lille had in me. “Do I imagine myself coming back one day? Obviously, it’s home. I would love to come back. But you never know in football. I just have to keep my feet on the ground, and keep playing, making the most of it. I can’t predict what will happen in the future. ” Manchester United are keeping tabs on their former player whose contract expires next summer, according to reports. Newcastle and Tottenham could provide competition for the Red Devils who are likely to see Casemiro and Christian Eriksen move on at the end of the current campaign. Gomes has no plans as yet to extend his deal at Lille with a move back to the Premier League a feasible option. Gomes’ Ligue 1 adventure has not proved to be a barrier to his hopes of playing regular international football. Lille are set for a second Champions League campaign in the last four years which will serve as an opportunity to put himself in the shop window. It also provides him with the chance to cement his recent England call-up with a number of high-profile matches. Gomes will test himself against Real Madrid, Juventus and Atletico Madrid in this season’s competition. Have your say on all things talk SPORT by joining ‘The DUGOUT’ – our new listener panel. We're all about diving deep into your perspectives, and making sure talk SPORT is the absolute best it can be. Your voice matters, and we want to hear it! Pitch your game-changing ideas, and join in with fun surveys, polls, and locker-room discussions. Just by joining, you'll enter a prize draw to win one of four £50 Amazon vouchers, with another prize draw entry for every survey you complete after that To join the ‘The DUGOUT’ panel, please click here. This service is provided on talk SPORT Ltd's Terms of Use in accordance with our Privacy Policy.