Liverpool fans woke up today to yet another storm at Anfield, a storm that nobody saw coming, but one that might shape the club’s season and even the future of a player who once looked untouchable. Reports have now revealed that Joe Gomez, the man who has been at Liverpool since 2015, the man who survived injuries, title wins, and the long shadow of Virgil van Dijk, has “one foot out” of the club. Even worse, the reports claim he is no longer part of Arne Slot’s plans. And just when fans thought the centre-back situation couldn’t get more complicated, Liverpool are said to be exploring the unlikeliest of solutions, with midfielder Wataru Endo being lined up as a surprise replacement at centre-back. This is the kind of twist that shakes supporters to their core.
The situation started with Giovanni Leoni’s cruel injury. The young Italian was supposed to be Liverpool’s future at the back, a defender signed to carry the torch when Van Dijk eventually slows down. But football can be brutal. One moment of bad luck, one turn of the knee, and Leoni’s season has been ripped apart with an ACL injury. Suddenly, Slot’s defence looks fragile. Without Leoni, Liverpool are left with just Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and Gomez as natural central defenders. And for a team chasing the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and everything in between, that is nowhere near enough.
What makes it worse is that Liverpool had chances to fix this. They went hard for Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace’s captain, all summer. The move looked like it would happen, but on deadline day it collapsed. Guehi stayed at Palace, and Liverpool were left exposed. It now looks like that failure might come back to haunt them, because the cracks are already showing. Konaté is brilliant but made of glass. Gomez is reliable when fit but has his own long history of injuries. If either of them go down, the Reds could be left scrambling for answers.
And yet, despite the lack of cover, Joe Gomez’s name is once again being pushed towards the exit door. Reports in Italy claim AC Milan still see him as a “priority target.” They chased him hard in the summer, but Liverpool blocked the deal at the last second, knowing they had no backup. Now, though, the talk is that Slot doesn’t see Gomez as part of his long-term vision. At 28, with a contract until 2027, Gomez should be in the prime of his career. But instead, he finds himself as a utility man, shuffled between right-back, left-back, and centre-back, never first choice, always second.
For years, Liverpool fans have loved Gomez for his loyalty, his versatility, and his courage. He was there in the 2019-20 title-winning side, partnering Van Dijk to form one of the best defences the Premier League has seen. He was there in the Champions League triumph. But football moves quickly. New managers bring new ideas, and Slot seems to prefer Konaté and Van Dijk as his pairing, with plans to bring in a younger star like Guehi to build for the future. That leaves Gomez stuck in limbo, and the whispers of an exit are growing louder with every passing week.
If AC Milan get their way, Gomez could be wearing red and black by January. The Italian giants are rebuilding their defence, and they believe Gomez’s pace, experience, and versatility make him a perfect fit. The player himself is said to be growing frustrated. He stayed in the summer, believing he would get his chance, but so far, he is still seen as a backup. Patience is running thin, and nobody would be surprised if he finally takes the plunge and heads abroad.