Aston Villa and Newcastle are thought to be interested in Liverpool defender Joe Gomez – and Steven Gerrard may just give Villa something of an advantage.
To say this has been a frustrating season for Gomez would be a complete understatement.
Once Jurgen Klopp’s first choice to partner Virgil van Dijk, Gomez now appears to be relegated down to fourth-choice at Anfield.
Joel Matip has been enjoying a great season whilst summer signing Ibrahima Konate quickly leapfrogged Gomez and looks to be a huge talent for the future.
Gomez has managed just one Premier League start this season and four substitute appearances. That comes to just 105 minutes of league action, and it isn’t much better in the Champions League; 145 minutes played.
The 24-year-old has faded out of the England picture too, meaning a spot at the World Cup later this year is looking pretty unlikely.
Gomez, quite simply, needs to leave Liverpool this summer if he is to get his career back on track.
Jurgen Klopp may think Gomez is ‘exceptional’, but that will ultimately count for little if Gomez isn’t getting game time.
The Athletic now claim that Aston Villa and Newcastle United are both interested in signing Gomez and are expected to lead the chase for his signature.
This may seem a little daunting to Villa given that Newcastle are expected to spend big if they stay up thanks to PIF’s investment.
However, the key to their pursuit could be boss Gerrard, who has already managed to convince Philippe Coutinho to join Villa this month.
Gerrard and Gomez never actually played together at Liverpool; Gomez joined in the same summer Gerrard quit Liverpool.
Gerrard did though coach at Liverpool during Gomez’s time there, mostly focusing on the young players but no doubt interacting with first-team players too.
Gomez will know all about Gerrard and the influence the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp have had on his coaching career.
If a Liverpool player has the chance to play for Steven Gerrard, you can imagine they would be interested – even if they never played with him!
Newcastle have the money, but Gerrard’s links at Liverpool may just give Villa the upper hand in the chase for Gomez this summer.
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