Joe Gomez will have to force a move to Aston Villa to make it happen – report
Joe Gomez will have to force through a move to Aston Villa because he has two years left on his contract, according to the Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece.
Football Insider reported two months ago that the Liverpool defender was the “number one priority” in the summer transfer window, and Preece has confirmed that Steven Gerrard is fully behind the plan.
The 24-year-old is stuck behind Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate at Anfield and has seen his participation dry up in the past two seasons, having made 43 appearances in the Premier League title-winning campaign.
In his latest Birmingham Mail Q&A Preece addressed the potential for the English defender to arrive at Villa Park, saying: “It’s one Villa like. Gerrard really keen on that but it’ll be down to Gomez himself to force a move out of Liverpool this summer. Two years left on his Anfield deal so a decision needs to be made.”
Proactive
Of course Gomez isn’t going to be allowed to just walk out of Anfield, but buried down the pecking order there’s no reason that Jurgen Klopp’s side wouldn’t entertain a decent offer.
Gerrard appears to be utilising his Liverpool history to the full, with Philippe Coutinho potentially remaining at the club permanently, and a move for Luis Suarez mooted.
Although the former Reds captain and Gomez passed each other at Anfield, with one arriving as the other left, he clearly sees him as part of his future plans.
The former England international can play centre-back and right-back, but has only started four times this season in the Premier League or Champions League.
His current club no doubt see value in keeping him in the squad, but if they valued him that highly they wouldn’t have added Konate last summer and Klopp would play him more.
Although significant money is likely to be spent if Coutinho can be secured permanently, and certainly if Kalvin Phillips is going to be targeted, it shouldn’t cost the earth to buy Gomez.
The club should be proactive and go for him if they want him that much, then if the player or the selling club aren’t willing to cooperate move on.
In other Aston Villa news, the club are in talks to sign Hearts teenager Ewan Simpson.