Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that Liverpool defender Joe Gomez could be set to leave Anfield in the summer.
Gomez has struggled for regular minutes this season due to injury troubles and falling out of favour. He has only featured 15 times in all competitions, which includes just five Premier League games. Liverpool bought Ibrahima Konate in the summer from RB Leipzig, who has seemingly filled the boots of Gomez in his absence.
The 24-year-old defender has been an unused substitute in four out of his side’s last five games, with his only start in that period coming in the FA Cup against Championship outfit Nottingham Forest.
With Aston Villa reportedly showing interest in the defender, O’Rourke spoke to GiveMeSport and highlighted that he may leave in the summer if he isn’t promised regular first-team football.
He said: “It’s a big summer ahead for Joe Gomez. He was obviously linked with a possible move to Villa in January and Liverpool decided to keep Gomez around. But he is probably the fourth-choice centre-back at Anfield right now and that’s what Joe Gomez doesn’t want to be there. He wants to be playing regular first-team football.”
TIF Thoughts on Pete O’Rourke’s comments…
Indeed, it appears as if Gomez isn’t the only player who may want to leave Liverpool as Divock Origi is currently nearing a move away from Anfield.
Gomez has had a frustrating couple of seasons due to injury. Last campaign, he featured just seven times in the Premier League, and this season he has been further sidelined, which has meant he has played just five Premier League games. In his absence, other defenders have cemented their place in the side, meaning Gomez has had to watch from the bench even when fit.
In the 2019/20 title-winning campaign, Gomez was key for his side, making 28 Premier League appearances, helping his side keep 12 clean sheets and recording zero errors that led to goals, as per SofaScore.
With the good form of Joel Matip, who has an average match rating of 7.44 over his last five Premier League games, Gomez may have to look elsewhere in the summer if he wants regular first-team football and to get his career back on track after lengthy periods on the sidelines due to injury.