Newly promoted Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly sounded out Liverpool’s Joe Gomez as a potential transfer target ahead of their maiden season in the Premier League.
Brighton & Hove Albion, led by Chris Hughton, enjoyed a fairytale campaign in the Championship last term enroute to Premier League paradise, finishing runners-up in the English second tier. And according to the Sun, the Seagulls are eyeing a move for Liverpool’s Joe Gomez in a bid to strengthen their squad ahead of their first outing in the top flight.
The former Charlton Athletic starlet completed his move to Merseyside during Brendan Rodgers’ reign at the club in the summer of 2015. However, a bright start was severely dented by an ACL injury and while the player has recovered from it, he hasn’t seen regular football since under Jurgen Klopp.
That said, the German does rate the Englishman highly and is unlikely to do away with the defender. After all, the player only signed a long-term extension back in January.
A spell out on loan may prove to be a fruitful bargain for the club and Klopp can only hope that it turns out to be as fruitful as it did for fellow promoted side Huddersfield Town and Danny Ward.
Aside Brighton, Celtic and Bournemouth have also expressed their interest in signing the player with Eddie Howe willing to offer £10 million for acquiring his services. The Cherries are also interested in a loan deal for the player should the Reds be unwilling to part with him.
Gomez only featured in 3 FA Cup games last season of which exit at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers was one of them. And with Klopp looking out for further first-team reinforcements this summer, the Englishman could be pushed further down the pecking order.
A European winner with the England U-17 team, Gomez’s injury troubles and lack of game-time at Anfield has seen him slip out of the radar of the England U-21s as well with the 20-year-old failing to add to his tally of four appearances since his last outing more than a year ago.
Just a £3.5 million acquisition in the first place, Klopp could accrue a good profit for the player should he agree to Bournemouth’s bid. However, with the Reds under investigation for their supposed ‘illegal’ negotiations with Virgil van Dijk, Klopp will want to ensure his already thin squad doesn’t shrink further, in the event of a transfer ban.
Chris Hughton has mastered the art of promotion many a time but somehow the Premier League has always proved to be a daunting challenge. He’d like to change his dodgy record in the top flight by securing the Seagulls status among the elite of English football come May 2017.
And his interest in a player like Joe Gomez falls in line with the club’s ambitions and also within their financial reach. So if not a permanent deal, Brighton will atleast look to avail the services of the player on a temporary basis.