Joe Gomez admitted that Brendan Rodgers was a major reason in him choosing Liverpool in 2015 and the manager could repeat the trick at Celtic.
Joe Gomez hasn’t been given a chance by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
The likes of Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino may have breathed a substantial sigh of relief when Jurgen Klopp came booming into Anfield with his heavy metal football in tow in October 2015.
After all, it is fair to say they were not allowed to show their worth under previous manager Brendan Rodgers and, since the Northern Irishman’s exit, have developed into two of the league’s most all-round attackers.
However, if there is one Liverpool player who could be forgiven for pining for Rodgers, it is young defender Joe Gomez. Despite returning to full health in January after a year on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament injury, the England youth international is still yet to make a Premier League appearance under Klopp.
Liverpool’s Joe Gomez
Therefore, it would be little surprise if Gomez was to jump at the prospect of reuniting with the manager who brought him to Liverpool from Charlton Athletic as an unproven 18-year-old.
‘Defining factor’
Consequently, this bodes well for Celtic’s hopes of signing him this summer with The Sun reporting that the Scottish champions will challenge Bournemouth and Brighton for his signature.
And there is clearly a great deal of mutual respect between player and manager – a factor that could give Celtic the edge over their Premier League counterparts.
“I met him [Rodgers] and that was a defining factor,” Gomez told The Mirror after putting pen to paper at Anfield two years ago, snubbing Arsenal and Manchester City in the process. “He was positive and has already shown he will give young players an opportunity.
“I thought carefully where would be the best place and give me the best chance to play – it was Liverpool.”
The defender was right, too. Gomez featured heavily in the first few weeks of his debut season, even starting a Merseyside derby clash with Everton.
And the admiration was mutual.
“He’s only 18 years of age, but seeing him play at left-back for the first time, he looked an outstanding athlete and a really good footballer,” Rodgers gushed, as reported by The Mirror.
Clearly, a reunion at Parkhead makes perfect sense.
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