Liverpool Transfer News: Joe Gomez OUT of Ipswich opener as he explores Anfield EXIT

Joe Gomez is not in the Liverpool squad to face Ipswich Town on Saturday in their Premier League opener. The defender is considering his future.

The Times reports that Joe Gomez did not travel with the Liverpool squad to face Ipswich Town on Saturday. The fixture will be Arne Slot's first competitive game as the Reds' head coach after taking over from Jurgen Klopp in the summer.

This comes months after Anfield Watch exclusively revealed that Gomez could leave Liverpool this summer. He was then offered to Newcastle United as part of a deal that would have seen Anthony Gordon come the other way.

That deal collapsed but it was made clear that the defender was disposable this summer. He's down the pecking order - and could now decide to move away.

And it appears he prefers Jarell Quansah at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk. Ibrahima Konaté is also ahead of Gomez in the pecking order, leaving the England defender to consider his future.

The claim here is that there have been 'grown-up' discussions between Gomez and Liverpool. They've come to the conclusion that he could leave the club if he wishes - but the Reds are not forcing him out.

There's plenty of interest in Gomez, too. Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Fulham and Chelsea are all mentioned, as are Bayern Munich.

Joe Gomez considers his future

It's no great shock that it's come to this, even so late in the transfer window. Gomez has fallen dow in the plans, while his versatility isn't quite as needed as it was last season.

Conor Bradley is now firmly in the mix at right-back, while both Kostas Tsimikas and Andy Robertson are fully fit. There's next to no chance that Gomez plays in a midfield role under Arne Slot, either, despite doing so at times under Jurgen Klopp.

We'll see what the next couple of weeks holds, then, but this could well be the end at Anfield of Liverpool's longest-serving senior player.