Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard wants to sign Liverpool defender Joe Gomez this summer.
That’s according to The Athletic, who claim that the 24-year-old is one of a number centre-backs being considered by the Liverpool icon.
It’s claimed that Gomez has actually been on Villa’s radar since he moved to Liverpool in 2015.
However, Villa are reportedly aware that a move for Gomez won’t come cheap. Liverpool are said to be looking for a ‘sizeable transfer fee’ if they were to sanction a move away for their player.
The case for selling Gomez
Villa’s interest in luring Gomez away from Anfield has been rumoured for some time. The defender hasn’t been playing too much football this season and could reportedly be interested in seeking a move away.
In truth, a parting of the ways at this stage would appear to make some sense. Gomez has fallen to fourth-choice at Liverpool this season and that doesn’t look like changing any time soon.
A lot of his football this season has been played as cover for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back. That isn’t his best position, but he’s done a passable impression when called upon.
Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip and Virgil Van Dijk have all excelled in the middle. At this juncture, it’s difficult to see where Gomez gets back in.
Should Liverpool be looking to bolster their kitty in the summer, Gomez would look like the most likely candidate.
Reasons for him to stay
Still only twenty-four, Gomez has won everything there is to win with Liverpool and has good international experience too. It’s obvious to see why Gerrard wants to sign him.
A fee in the region of the £35m Liverpool paid for Konate would seem like a fair price. If Gomez is happy to stay though, there doesn’t seem an urgent need to recoup that kind of money.
Liverpool would have to go out and replace him. Moves have been mooted to be in the works for the likes of Gleison Bremer, but he would reportedly cost The Reds more than £40m.
Unless Gomez is agitating for a move, there’s no harm in Liverpool keeping him around. His quality is clear – Jurgen Klopp recently called him ‘outstanding’ via BBC Sport – and he’s still young enough to become a first-team regular in the future.
The reason Liverpool have been able to come so far towards a quadruple this season is the strength of the squad. If your back-up is as good as Liverpool’s number 12, you’re always going to be in with a shout.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
