Liverpool transfers: Reds' warning over Angel Gomes deal

Liverpool have backed themselves into a bit of a corner. One way or another, the next 12 months is going to cost them a fortune.

The Reds need to decide whether to retain or replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. Whatever the decision, it isn’t going to be cheap.

Read more: Liverpool watching Angel Gomes 

Contract renewals can be pricey.  Potentially replacing some of the best players in their respective positions can be pricier.  There’s no cheap option here and this will no doubt be at the forefront of Richard Hughes’ mind as he plans for the future.

The Reds are going to have to get creative in the transfer market if they are going to improve the squad without breaking the bank. It can be done. It’ll require smart business though.

Liverpool need to make sure they don’t fall into the trap of assuming free is smart. Sometimes, that just isn’t the case. Sometimes, bringing someone in can be more detrimental than not signing anyone at all. This could well be the case with Angel Gomes.

Angel Gomes free to talk to clubs in January

The former Manchester United youngster is reportedly a target for the 2019/20 Premier League champions. The 24-year-old left Old Trafford in search of first-team football and has been a key cog in the Lille system over recent seasons.

His form in Ligue 1 earned him a call-up to Lee Carsley’s first England squad. The versatile midfielder made his first appearance for the Three Lions against the Republic of Ireland and his first start arrived against Finland a couple of days later.

His showings in the middle of the park combined with his contract status has seen his list of suitors swell over recent months. According to reports, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Newcastle United, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool are all keen on Gomes. The Reds have even sent scouts to watch the playmaker in person.

He’s free to talk to clubs in January with his deal with Les Dogues set to expire at the end of the season.

Angel Gomes fits Liverpool progressive policy

Liverpool are in the market for a holding midfielder having failed to pry Martin Zubimendi away from Real Sociedad in the summer.  The Reds were willing to pay the £52million release clause but the midfielder, who is believed to have given his word to Hughes, opted to stay in San Sebastián.

While Ryan Gravenberch has impressed for the Reds as the No6, the feeling is there needs to be an alternative to the Dutchman. And Gomes could be viewed as an opportunistic signing to strengthen the squad on the cheap.

Gomes, who has an Expected Transfer Value of €15.6million, does tick a few boxes for Arne Slot.

For starters, he does qualify as a controller. Gomes has decent pass volume for Lille, averaging close to 60 completed passes per 90. He’s tidy in possession, finding a teammate 89% of the time. The recently capped England international is creative, carving out 3.66 shot-creating actions per 90 and he has an Expected Assists average of 0.2 He’s also progressive in possession and extremely press-resistant.

Slot values control and possession. All of these traits feed into Liverpool ‘killing teams with passes’.

Carsley praised Gomes’ footballing brain, something else the Dutch tactician is reportedly keen on.

“He loves football, he watches football, he's interested in tactics, he knows all the players in any league," he said. "If you ask him for any feedback, you need to be prepared that he's going to give you some feedback on the session, or how we're going to build up, or the positions.

"He'll often say about some build-ups he's done with other clubs, or what he's played against, because he's obviously playing in France, so he sees different things.”

The drawbacks of Liverpool signing Angel Gomes

With the ball, there would be no issues. As we’ve seen this season though, there are two sides to the No6 position for Liverpool. There’s being progressive in possession and then aggressive without the ball.

Gravenberch has been praised for his ability to disrupt the opposition. He breaks play up, positions himself well to make interceptions and is quite active during defensive phases of play. The 6ft2 Dutch midfielder was named Player of the Match in the 3-1 win over Milan on Tuesday.

He finished the game having made seven interceptions. No Liverpool player has made more in a single UEFA Champions League game since the start of the 2016/17 season at least.

Gomes hasn’t shown that side of his game with Lille. The 5ft6 controller was averaging fewer than two tackles per 90 last season and had just a 50% success rate. He struggled in duels, on the ground and in the air, and he wasn’t making that many ball recoveries.

This isn’t to say he won’t be able to adapt that side of his game but there must be concerns over how he’s going to handle the physicality of the Premier League as well as the demands of playing as the deepest midfielder for Liverpool. Even if he’s available on a free, the move makes no sense if he doesn’t have the right profile.

Signing the wrong cover for Gravenberch is worse than signing no cover if it alters the way the team plays.