Anthony Ralston has been in superb form since breaking into Celtic’s team – but would it have been possible if Gomez arrived from Liverpool?
Liverpool refused to let Joe Gomez leave the club in the summer despite plenty of clubs clamouring to take the 20-year-old defender on loan. According to The Sun, Brighton and Bournemouth were interested while Celtic, managed by former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, were also in the frame.
A reunion with Rodgers at one of Britain’s biggest clubs may have been tempting for Gomez, who the Northern Irishman brought to Liverpool from Charlton Athletic in 2015 and immediately gave him a chance to shine in the starting XI.
You wonder whether Liverpool rebuffing all offers was something of a blessing in disguise for Celtic, however. After all, would teenage sensation Anthony Ralston have been given his chance in the first-team had Gomez arrived to provide more quality and quantity at full-back?
18-year-old Ralston broke into Celtic’s first-team picture towards the end of last season but has gone from strength to strength in the current campaign, starting three league games and also being entrusted with the daunting task of marking Neymar in the Champions League group-stage clash with PSG.
Rodgers is one of the most esteemed talentspotters in British football and he would have been more than aware of Ralston’s potential regardless of whether Gomez arrived at Parkhead this summer.
Gomes would likely have battled long-serving right-back Mikael Lustig for a place in the Celtic starting XI, however, meaning that Ralston may have found opportunities a little harder to come by.
And, when you consider just how impressive the Scotland youth international has been in recent months, it’s tempting to think what impact Gomez’s arrival would have had on his development.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
