Liverpool could be hinting at ‘world-class’ player’s exit with their reported £20m transfer target – RTK View

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The latest Liverpool links to a centre-back ask serious questions of Joe Gomez. Just what is his future at the club?

We’ve seen reports suggesting Liverpool want Ronald Araujo for some time now. ESPN claimed just a couple of weeks ago that there was an offer from the Reds, in fact.

But it’s a strange one. Liverpool already have four elite centre-backs – there’s not even really room for Araujo. So it wasn’t really any surprise to read that the Uruguayan is set to renew with Barcelona.

That, we assumed, was the end of Liverpool wanting a centre-back. Now, though, there are links to Gleison Bremer, with Goal claiming the Reds are interested at £20m.

It seems that Liverpool really do want a new centre-back – so what does that mean for the current four?

Joe Gomez at Liverpool

Well, Virgil van Dijk isn’t going anywhere. Ibrahima Konate has only just arrived, while he’s an obvious long-term prospect for the Reds.

That leaves two players who could potentially move on to make room for someone new. It doesn’t seem likely that Liverpool sell Joel Matip, though. He’s first-choice alongside Van Dijk, has a contract until 2024 and is past 30 – he’s not someone you sell.

And that leaves Joe Gomez. The 24-year-old just hasn’t had many games at all this season and it would surely be him that moved on to make room.

Only, we assumed that this was a case of Araujo being a player Liverpool couldn’t afford to pass on. They’d move Gomez on but only because they’d sign a fantastic talent to replace him.

Now it seems that Liverpool are actively looking for a new centre-back. No longer a case of ‘too good to pass up’, then, but an actual need for one.

To us, that suggests that Gomez is off – either on loan or permanently. It just doesn’t make sense to court a centre-back this much unless room in the squad is certain to arrive. Bremer, after all, isn’t as proven as Araujo and would cost a considerable sum – there’s no ‘need’ to sign him.

It’s a strange situation, given Jurgen Klopp labelled Gomez ‘world-class’ recently. But everything is adding up to his departure this summer.