Liverpool want £52m midfield star but he could now end up joining Xabi Alonso instead

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Liverpool want Joao Gomes but the Brazilian talent may instead end up joining Reds legend Xabi Alonso with German side Bayer Leverkusen.

The Reds are bound to be interested in new midfielders for 2023.

James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all out of contract at the end of the season and look set to leave for free.

Loanee Arthur Melo is very unlikely to stick around at Anfield, especially after his injury blow.

Liverpool would no doubt love to sign Jude Bellingham but they need to have other options in mind just in case they can’t sign the Borussia Dortmund talent.

Liverpool want Joao Gomes

One of the options linked in recent times is Flamengo ace Joao Gomes.

The 21-year-old has emerged as a real talent over in Brazil and has already racked up more than 100 appearance for Flamengo.

SPORT reported in September that Liverpool are rivalling Real Madrid in the race to sign Joao Gomes, who has a release clause of around €60million (£52million).

Flamengo want that full release clause and it looked like being a straight fight between Liverpool and Real, just as it was for Aurelien Tchouameni over the summer.

There now appears to be a new contender though.

Globo Esporte in Brazil report that Bayer Leverkusen now fancy signing Joao Gomes and have sent scouts to watch the midfielder against Corinthians.

Whether Leverkusen would be able to pay that full release clause is the problem, but you could see how Joao Gomes may fancy the move.

Brazilians such as Ze Roberto, Renato Augusto, Paulinho, Lucio, Wendell, Roque Junior and Emerson have all fared well for Leverkusen over the years.

A move to Leverkusen would also allow Joao Gomes to work under their new boss Xavi Alonso, who was one of the best midfielders of his generation.

That could be a great learning experience for Joao Gomes and he would surely have more first-team opportunities there than with a giant like Liverpool or Real.

Liverpool may now have to see Joao Gomes move on to play under a former Reds star in Alonso rather than head to Anfield, but it will all come down to that release clause and whether Flamengo will offer any discount.