Report: Newcastle and Villa likely to lead race for Joe Gomez this summer
Newcastle United and Aston Villa are likely to be near the front of the queue to sign Joe Gomez should Liverpool decide to sell the defender this summer, according to a report from The Athletic.
Gomez has endured a hugely frustrating season. He had barely played any minutes in the Premier League before getting through the 90 at the weekend as the Reds beat Norwich City.
It is a surprise to see how much of a struggle it has been for the 24-year-old. However, he missed the large majority of last season. And in his place, Joel Matip has been outstanding. And Liverpool have strengthened further with the addition of Ibrahima Konaté.
The Athletic makes it clear that there has, so far, been no suggestion that Gomez is looking to leave Anfield. However, his contract will have two years left to run in the summer.
And should Liverpool decide to cash in on Gomez, Aston Villa and Newcastle may well make a move. The Magpies’ ability to enter the race, of course, will largely depend on whether they manage to stay up.
Newcastle and Aston Villa could both offer attractive options to Joe Gomez should he consider Liverpool future
Clearly, it would not be easy to lure Gomez away from Merseyside. He has enjoyed a lot of success with the Reds. And it perhaps says a lot that there was no clear desire to leave during the January transfer window.
Having said that, Gomez should be approaching the peak years of his career. So he may be wary of sticking around if he is going to remain on the periphery of the Liverpool squad.
Both Newcastle and Villa have the potential to offer hugely attractive options to Gomez. The pair were amongst the most ambitious in the Premier League during the January transfer window.
They will both have their sights set on places much higher up the table next season. And signing Gomez – who Jürgen Klopp once labelled a ‘sensational‘ footballer – would certainly help them realise those ambitions.
