Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is aiming to tie Joe Gomez down to a new contract after securing the long-term future of Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian forward was confirmed to have penned a new, three-year deal at Anfield last week with his previous contract set to expire next summer. The Reds were keen to secure the future of the former AS Roma star following the exit of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich earlier this window.
Now, Klopp is anxious to get other members of his squad to commit to the Merseyside outfit, with defender Gomez thought to be next on the list.
Mirror Sport understands that both the German boss and new sporting director Julian Ward have put the centre-back’s contractual situation at the top of their respective priority lists in an effort to stave off interest in his services.
Former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard is keen on taking Gomez to Aston Villa - albeit they are yet to open formal discussions with the Reds over a transfer. Even if a dialogue begins, it appears unlikely that the Merseyside outfit would push through a deal. Klopp is a big fan of Gomez and sees him as England’s best centre-back.
The defender has been part of the Liverpool set-up since a bargain 2015 switch from Charlton Athletic. In the time since, the now 25-year-old has gone on to accumulate 142 appearances for the side and earned 11 caps for the England senior side.
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His game time has dropped over recent seasons though with serious injury disrupting a number of campaigns on Merseyside. Gomez made 21 appearances last term but only 11 of those were starts.
He currently has two years remaining on his current contract at Anfield but should an agreement be found for an extended stay, he would join the likes of Klopp and Salah in committing their future to the Reds over the past few months. The Liverpool boss has regularly praised Gomez for his ability to adapt having deployed him both at right-back and centre-back.
Speaking to Liverpool’s official website, he said: “Joe jumped between right-back and centre-half, which is not perfect when you have no rhythm.
“If you are in a good moment it’s no problem, but in that moment Joe had no real rhythm and that’s why he struggled a little bit. But since he is playing as a centre-half again – his natural position – together with Virg there is exceptional. He is a sensational footballer, which is good.
“He has outstanding speed, which helps us a lot to keep our last line high; he is a really good challenger; good in one-on-one situations; football-wise, I said already, good.
“The package is really nice. It was always clear in the moment he starts playing and can get rhythm again, everything will be fine – and that’s how it is.”
