With incomings at Liverpool said to be done for the summer, all focus is on who could leave Anfield in the remainder of the transfer window. With contracts expiring in the next year or two, the Reds hierarchy have some key decisions to make.
Divock Origi will officially no longer be a Red come Thursday, once his deal expires, while Sadio Mane has sealed a move to Bayern Munich after wanting to embark on a new challenge. Takumi Minamino, too, has left the club, sealing his switch to Monaco after finding first-team opportunities hard to find.
But one man who the Reds may think is essential to keep hold of is Joe Gomez. The 25-year-old, like Minamino, found his game time limited last season. After returning in pre-season following a serious injury, Gomez was restricted to just 11 starts in all competitions, just four of which came in the Premier League.
READ MORE: Forward Liverpool squad begged Jurgen Klopp to sign was right transfer at wrong time
READ MORE: Darwin Nunez could outdo Erling Haaland at Liverpool with favourite Pep Guardiola trick
With Virgil van Dijk also returning to fitness, he was always going to be the first choice in the heart of the Liverpool defence. The spot to his right, however, was up for grabs. Joel Matip and Gomez had both had spells next to the Dutchman in previous years, both performing superbly. But, following the injury crisis that ruled out all three centre-backs during the forgettable 2020-21 season, Jurgen Klopp looked to strengthen his backline further last summer with the signing of Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig.
After being given time to settle, Liverpool's sole recruit of the 2021 summer transfer window quickly made it known that he would go on to be a regular in the heart of the defence with some powerful and confident displays. Having just turned 23, Konate could well be the cornerstone of the Reds' backline for the next decade.
So could Gomez. But he may need to bide his time and wait for his opportunity to come along again.
Most of his time on the pitch last season came as a back-up for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back. He did a good job, but it is clear it's not his favoured position. And with a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the World Cup in November up for grabs, Gomez will know he needs to be playing football in his best position at the start of the new season.
The former Charlton Athletic youngster is still very much a part of Liverpool's plans and the club is thought to want to open talks over a new deal. The Reds may have more pressing contract concerns - Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita, for example, are set to become free agents next summer as it stands - but Gomez is into the final two years of his current deal. Whether he pens fresh terms may well depend on how he sees his own situation.
If he was to leave Anfield, it could be one of the rare occasions when the Reds regret letting a player go. With more game time, Gomez can get back to the top of his game and cement his spot as England's best centre-back.
But if doesn't play more regularly, no doubt there will be managers and clubs out there who will grant him that. Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, for example, would reportedly like to take Gomez to Aston Villa. Time will tell.
READ NEXT:
-
Liverpool set to 'miss out' on Raphinha as Premier League rivals close in on £55m deal
-
Raheem Sterling must face truth about Liverpool as Man City make their feelings clear
-
'Get on with it' - Sadio Mane sent blunt Liverpool 'respect' message after Bayern Munich transfer
-
Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah fires England into Euro Under-19 final
