Joe Gomez was close to leaving Liverpool at the end of the summer transfer window and is expected to be a target in January too, with AC Milan retaining their interest.
Gomez was poised to leave Anfield amid interest from AC Milan, Brighton and Crystal Palace, only for a deal to sign Marc Guehi to fall through.
The No. 2 saw his chances of moving dashed as Palace pushed their decision over Guehi to the final hours of deadline day, with Arne Slot eager to avoid leaving his centre-back options short.
But Gomez has remained on the periphery and that is a situation Milan will seemingly look to exploit when the transfer window reopens.
AC Milan planning January bid for Joe Gomez
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 23, 2025: Liverpool's Joe Gomez lines-up before the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Italian publication Corriere dello Sport – via Sport Witness – reports that “an attack is on the way” when it comes to Milan’s plans to sign the England international.
Sporting director Igli Tare is eager to land his targets swiftly, avoiding the issues faced at the end of the summer, and it is suggested that Liverpool could receive contact soon.
Gomez is claimed to have held positive talks with Milan before his proposed switch fell through and his continued lack of game time could motivate a mid-season exit.
Massimiliano Allegri could benefit from the 28-year-old’s versatility as he would suit his favoured three-man defence and also any role in a traditional four-man unit.
Liverpool unlikely to sanction a mid-season exit
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, October 29, 2025: Liverpool's Joe Gomez speaks to Crystal Palace's captain Marc Guéhi after the Football League Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
However it seems unlikely that Gomez will countenance a January move for their longest-serving player unless a direct replacement is sourced.
With Giovanni Leoni sidelined for the remainder of the campaign and Guehi not expected to leave Palace until his contract expires in the summer, that leaves fewer options.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are settled as the first-choice partnership but Gomez is still required as de facto third choice.
Andy Robertson, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch are also available as emergency options, though all three are required regularly elsewhere.
Liverpool linked with Schlotterbeck and Upamecano
LONDON, ENGLAND - Tuesday, March 7, 2023: Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck, almost lost in the yellow smoke, during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg game between Chelsea FC and Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea won 2-0, 2-1 on aggregate. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
A number of other centre-backs have been linked with moves to Anfield, however, namely Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, Bayern Munich‘s Dayot Upamecano and Sporting CP duo Ousmane Diomande and Zeno Debast.
Those players could be viewed as alternatives to Guehi, who is claimed to have “given his word” to join the Premier League champions but is also attracting a number of high-profile clubs as he nears free agent status.
Any changes at the back in January would be considered a shock at this stage, but clearly Liverpool could face a tough decision if Milan push for Gomez.