Newcastle United are looking to sign a new defender, and it is an open secret.
The Magpies have made four attempts to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi in the summer window, with their latest bid being over £60 million.
However, the bid has failed with the Eagles demanding a fee of around £70 million. Newcastle are unlikely to pay over the odds and could turn their attention elsewhere.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, the Magpies are keeping an eye on Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, who is exploring other options.
Gomez, who won the Premier League title and the Champions League trophy under Jurgen Klopp, has made 224 appearances for the Reds since joining in 2015 from Charlton Athletic.
He wants to play in his preferred centre-back position and was not included in Arne Slot’s first Premier League matchday squad against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Aston Villa, Fulham, Chelsea and some clubs abroad, along with Newcastle, have shown interest in signing the Reds defender.
Eddie Howe is keen to bolster his defensive set-up before the transfer deadline. He is already without Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles and will miss Fabian Schar, who is now suspended for three matches following his red card for headbutting striker Ben Brereton Diaz.
Gomez will be a terrific signing for the Magpies. The 27-year-old is a versatile defender who can also play in the right-back role.
He is a regular member of the England national team and will bring his wealth of experience to the side.
Earlier in the summer, Gomez saw a potential £45 million move to Newcastle fall through last month as part of negotiations around the deal for Anthony Gordon.
While Liverpool will not sell Gomez on the cheap, Newcastle can still expect to get him at a reasonable price. Liverpool, meanwhile, could use this opportunity to negotiate a deal for Gordon if they want.
