Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard could get a major transfer boost this summer if his team can sign rumoured target Joe Gomez.
In a recent report by The Mirror, it was claimed that the former Liverpool man will test his old club’s ‘resolve’ as he tries to tempt their centre-back into a move to Birmingham.
Indeed, Gomez is said to be one of Gerrard’s top targets as he plans a ‘huge shake-up’ at Villa ahead of next season, and this could have an interesting impact on the club.
With that in mind, TIF has taken a look at how it could all play out.
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Bad news for new man
During the past transfer window, Calum Chambers arrived from Arsenal. In his short time with the club so far, he has provided a few fine moments of quality, but the defender has fallen out of favour of late.
Despite the Villans losing their past four league games, the defender has not played in any of the past three matches and seems to have lost his spot in the starting XI for now (via Transfermarkt).
Considering he is behind the likes of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa in the pecking order at centre-back, it will not be a big boost to his confidence to see the club linked with another.
To make things worse, one of Chambers’ positives is that he can play at right-back as well – and did so often for the Gunners last term – but Gomez can also fill that role, too.
Indeed, the 24-year-old has provided cover in that position plenty of times this season, and even drew comparisons with Trent Alexander-Arnold for the superb assist he claimed while playing at right-back against Watford recently.
Gerrard raids former clubs
If Gerrard really does chase after Gomez, it could signal his plan in the rest of the transfer market. The manager obviously has great connections at Liverpool, having spent most of his playing career there – and used his ‘fantastic relationship’ with former teammate Philippe Coutinho to help that deal happen.
As a Reds icon, he may be able to use that status to tempt Gomez into making a move, too – on top of a possible promise of more regular game time – but this might not be the only former club he looks to raid for new signings.
Ahead of the January transfer market, it was reported that he could look at a number of players he used to coach during his spell with Rangers – with Borna Barisic, Ryan Kent and Glen Kamara all being linked.
If he can pull off a deal for Gomez using his contacts to a former club, he may feel emboldened to repeat the trick in a similar way to complete his summer ‘shake-up’ at Villa by chasing some of those aforementioned Ibrox players.
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