Joe Gomez will report for his 11th pre-season at Liverpool next week, and the defender has arguably never been more important to the club. Under new head coach Andoni Iraola, Gomez forms part of a four-man centre-back department where each player faces questions.
Veteran Van Dijk and Young Signings Present Challenges
Virgil van Dijk, now 35 and club captain, has only 12 months left on his contract. Liverpool have long confronted the prospect of a squad without the talismanic skipper, whose enduring importance remains but requires future-proofing. That is why the club secured £60m Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes in January, beating off interest from Chelsea. The new signing turns 21 next week, but there is a general acceptance that younger players will need a natural adjustment period before reaching their full potential. Starring at the sharp end of the Premier League is the immediate task for Jacquet, a tough demand regardless of his ability.
For Giovanni Leoni, the challenge is different. The 19-year-old Italian must regain full fitness after a debilitating ACL injury sustained last September on his only Reds appearance to date. He has been back at the AXA Training Centre continuing that process, but it would be grossly unfair to push Leoni into a comeback before he is 100%, given the intensity of the Premier League and expectations at Anfield. Like Jacquet, Leoni will need time to settle before showing why Liverpool's recruitment team rated him as the best young centre-back in Italy last August, doubly true as he returns from such a serious issue.
Gomez's Versatility and Experience Prove Crucial
This is why Gomez's value has increased before a pre-season ball has been kicked. It is six years since he regularly played as a centre-back in the Premier League, and the Londoner has become a utility man at Anfield since the Reds won the title under Jurgen Klopp. Appearances in either full-back spot have tended to be the norm in the Premier League, with centre-half starts mainly coming in domestic cups. But given the challenges for both Jacquet and Leoni, Gomez could be set to reprise his partnership with Van Dijk on a more regular basis in the coming months.
Now into the final year of his contract, the former Charlton Athletic youngster conceded in May that he was unsure how the summer transfer window would play out. "I think anything can happen," he said. "I don’t know is the honest answer. I’ve only got a year left on my contract, so I don’t know. Whatever’s meant to be will be, but I’m so grateful to have had this time here at this club. I always will be grateful to have had 11 years at a place like this. All I can do is be thankful and we’ll see."
Transfer Interest and Squad Evolution
A target for Newcastle United in 2024 before Crystal Palace and AC Milan also held talks last year, Gomez, now 29, would be inundated with offers should he communicate his desire to leave this summer. But given his quality, experience, and ability to perform in several positions, Gomez should feel his stock is as high as it has been for quite some time at Liverpool. At a time when there is so much uncertainty around a squad evolving under its third manager in four seasons, the surety of Gomez can act as a balm for Iraola and a Reds defensive department that has experienced much upheaval in the last couple of years.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson now gone and Jacquet, Leoni, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong all present, the backline has had a revolving door attached to it since last summer. The final year of Gomez's contract might prevent the asking price from becoming astronomical, but Liverpool will feel they are better served keeping him than agreeing to any cut-price sale right now.
