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Liverpool is not expected to entertain offers for Joe Gomez in January despite AC Milan’s continued interest in the defender.
The Italian giants attempted to sign Gomez late in the summer transfer window, a possibility that remained alive until the deadline. The 28-year-old ultimately remained at Anfield beyond September 1 but has struggled for minutes this season, primarily playing second fiddle to Arne Slot’s preferred center-back pairing of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk.
Gomez has not started any of Liverpool’s Premier League or Champions League matches, and has only been selected from the off in the Reds’ Carabao Cup outings.
That has piqued Milan's interest once again ahead of the mid-season transfer market, but Liverpool.com understands that a January move is unlikely given the lack of center-back options.
In many ways, it’s the same issue that prevented Gomez’s potential exit in the summer. Had Marc Guehi completed a transfer to Anfield, Liverpool may have been open to the possibility of its longest-serving player departing.
But as the transfer saga continued into the final days of August, Gomez’s status as a Liverpool player looked increasingly secure. A loan move was tentatively suggested by Milan and quickly rebuffed by Liverpool. The Reds were only open to a permanent exit, and would not have allowed the defender to leave on the cheap.
Liverpool.com understands that while a transfer remained possible even on deadline day, it never felt close at any stage.
Now, with Guehi remaining at Crystal Palace and Giovanni Leoni out for the rest of the campaign due to injury, Gomez’s chances of leaving in January are minuscule. At the very least, one defensive addition would be needed in January, perhaps two, before Liverpool would even consider Gomez’s departure.
Milan is already accepting of the situation and has other targets in mind, with the seven-time European champions keen to add more defensive options given Massimiliano Allegri’s preferred 3-4-3 system.
Meanwhile, despite his limited playing time this season, Gomez remains an appreciated squad member at Liverpool, especially given the number of high-profile outgoings in recent years.
Having an experienced player who can slot in at a moment’s notice and perform to a high standard is greatly valued, while the former Charlton Athletic man has never pushed to leave Liverpool.
He could have departed in each of the last two summers, but may find that 2026, 11 years after joining the club, could be the right time to move on.
Next summer is seen as a crossroads for Liverpool’s center-back options. Konate could walk away for free, Guehi has attracted interest from elsewhere, and there is no certainty that Leoni will be ready to play any significant role in the first half of the season. Likewise, the trio could all be available for selection.
The movement of other center-backs will impact Gomez’s future as he enters the final 12 months of his Liverpool contract.
The club is in no hurry to move Gomez on, and an extension still feels possible, although there have been no talks yet.
In the meantime, Liverpool’s no.2 will hope to play more minutes in the upcoming months, in the knowledge that every start he makes could be among his last for the club he has represented for over a decade.
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