Al Ittihad put Joe Gomez 'very high' on transfer shortlist

Not content with the disruption already caused around Mohamed Salah, Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad could now also make overtures to Joe Gomez.

The Saudi Pro League champions signed Fabinho for £40m earlier this summer and are tipped to make a £86m bid for Salah – an offer that is expected to be rejected out of hand.

It is understood that Salah is a priority target for the Saudi Pro League, given his status as arguably the Arab world's biggest sporting superstar. The contract terms that would be offered by Al Ittihad could even make the Egyptian the world's highest paid player – though this is largely irrelevant as Liverpool have no intention of selling the player who is under contract until 2025.

It's not just Salah who is of interest to Al Ittihad. According to Fabrizio Romano, Gomez is 'very high' on the club's 'shortlist of defenders' due to his versatility.

Gomez, who has dropped down the pecking order at Liverpool due to injury and form issues coupled with the rise of Ibrahima Konate, impressed in Sunday's comeback win over Newcastle.

The 26-year-old is currently Liverpool's longest serving first-team player, following the exit of Jordan Henderson, and arrived at Anfield prior to Jurgen Klopp back in the summer of 2015.

He is currently under contract until 2027.

Romano's tweet adds that Liverpool have 'no intention to sell important players', heading into the final days of the transfer window.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are known to be on the lookout for defensive reinforcement before Deadline Day on Friday, with Arthur Theate and Piero Hincapie among those being looked at.

With Virgil van Dijk serving a suspension and Konate still a fitness doubt, Gomez could well get his first start of the season in Sunday's game against Aston Villa at Anfield.

Though Liverpool's position may be to reject all interest in Gomez and any other first-team players, one potential issue is that the Saudi window will remain open until 20 September – a situation Jurgen Klopp has described as 'not helpful'.