According to Fabrizio Romano, a transfer specialist, Saudi Pro League team Al-Ittihad has placed Liverpool defender Joe Gomez at the top of their want list for defenders to recruit this summer.

Because of his flexibility, the Englishman is much sought after, but the Reds have repeatedly said that they have no plans to trade any key players before the transfer market ends on Friday.

After previously returning for another Liverpool star, Al-Ittihad have shown renewed interest in Mohamed Salah.

Coming off the bench following Virgil van Dijk’s red card 28 minutes into Sunday’s match against Newcastle United, the 27-year-old made his second Premier League appearance of 2023-24 and helped Jurgen Klopp’s side to a 2-1 victory against the odds.

Gomez is fourth on Liverpool’s depth chart at center defense, behind the captain, Joel Matip, and Ibrahima Konate, with Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of him on the left and right sides.

Despite Klopp’s high regard for the former Charlton Athletic player, he only made 10 substitute appearances last season in 31 total games.

Gomez has featured in 175 games for Liverpool since joining the club in the summer of 2015. He has yet to score a goal for Liverpool, however he has contributed six assists..

There are still four years remaining on his contract, and he has already played 11 times for England.

It will be intriguing to watch what happens in the following days, since Al-Ittihad will be eager to give Gomez more than the £85,000 weekly salaries he presently gets at Anfield, but Liverpool will not accept proposals from the Saudis for any of its players.

Jordan Henderson and Fabinho departed for the Middle Eastern cash cows earlier this summer, and the club is hesitant to do business with them this week since there is so little time to bring in replacements, even if selling players were to be considered.