- Gomez was part of negotiations around a deal for Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon
- A medical was planned with Gomez happy with the chance of regular football
- A deal collapsed when Newcastle sold Yankuba Minteh before the PSR deadline
Liverpool could be forced to consider bringing in a new defender should Joe Gomez leave this summer.
The England international saw a potential £45million move to Newcastle United fall through last month as part of negotiations around the deal for Anthony Gordon and is open minded about seeking a new challenge in his quest for regular first-team football.
Despite the departure of Joel Matip, the emergence of another Newcastle target Jarell Quansah, and the development on loan at Mainz of Sepp van den Berg, means coach Arne Slot does have options, but Gomez’s versatility and consistency has been crucial for Liverpool over recent seasons.
Liverpool were active in their pursuit of Leny Yoro but that was more because he was viewed as a generational talent and a ‘one-off deal’ on the market rather than serve a need to recruit a centre back per se. They had expected him to join Real Madrid but stepped back as Manchester United‘s involvement inflated the price beyond £45million for the 18-year-old prospect.
They have also received a number of offers and enquiries from the likes of PSV Eindhoven, Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim and Mainz for Van den Berg but, as yet, no one is close to their £20m valuation and the Dutchman is keen to stake a first-team claim under compatriot Slot.
Liverpool’s Joe Gomez is open to a new challenge after seeing a move to Newcastle collapse
Gomez had been part of Newcastle and Liverpool’s negotiations for Anthony Gordon (right)
Liverpool boss Arne Slot could be forced into the market for a defender should Gomez depart
Liverpool’s recruitment focus has predominantly been on other areas, however, losing Gomez could prompt some defensive options, currently on the back burner, being brought to the fore.
Newcastle’s pursuit of Gomez unfolded after they initially approached Liverpool in early June about whether the Anfield club had interest in buying either Anthony Gordon or Alexander Isak for PSR purposes.
The initial £100m price tags were dismissed by Liverpool then, as Mail Sport exclusively revealed, Newcastle asked…