Aston Villa have identified Joe Gomez as their number-one priority for the summer transfer window, according to Football Insider.
The report claims Steven Gerrard has his eye on the centre-back with the Villa manager looking to make another big-name signing in the summer.
Who would you prefer in Gerrard's defence?
Ezri Konsa
Joe Gomez
Having reportedly made a move for the 24-year-old during the January window, it is believed Gerrard is already plotting his move for the Liverpool ace in the coming months.
And with Gerrard reportedly already looking to make changes to his options in defence, what could this mean for the current Villa defenders – in particular Ezri Konsa?
The Aston Villa defence will have come under serious questioning over the last few weeks, with just one clean sheet to their name since the middle of December.
And one player who has come under scrutiny during that run of games is the 24-year-old, Konsa.
The Englishman has been a mainstay in the Villa squad this season, with 21 appearances and two goals to his name in the Premier League (via Transfermarkt).
However, Gerrard has played with a rigid back four throughout his time at Rangers and he has brought that through to Villa Park, with Tyrone Mings predominantly playing alongside the 24-year-old.
And we think it is unlikely Gerrard would look to move on the club captain in Mings given he is an England international and the senior figure out of the current Villa centre-backs.
Although it does not necessarily mean Villa are looking to sell Konsa in the summer by targetting Gomez, it could certainly leave the 24-year-old sweating over his spot in the starting XI.
Come the start of the next Premier League campaign, Konsa will be closing in on his 25th birthday, so we do question whether he would be willing to potentially fight for his spot if Gomez was to sign.
And given Gerrard has been strict to his four-at-the-back defence throughout his managerial career, we think it is unlikely the 41-year-old would change his style to fit in Mings, Gomez and Konsa into the starting XI.
With the centre-back currently out of the Villa squad through suspension, it could be a huge couple of months ahead for him to prove his worth to Gerrard amid the links to Gomez.
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