The January transfer window is still months away, but the rumblings around Liverpool's defensive core are already growing louder. With AC Milan preparing yet another bid for Joe Gomez and uncertainty swirling around the futures of Ibrahima Konaté and other center-backs, Liverpool's backline could be on the verge of a dramatic transformation. The club's record-breaking summer spending spree has only intensified the spotlight, making Anfield a focal point for transfer intrigue as the winter window approaches.
Few summers in Liverpool history have matched the scale and spectacle of 2025. The Reds splashed out over £450 million on new arrivals and recouped more than £200 million in player sales, reshaping the squad to fit manager Arne Slot's vision. The marquee signing, Alexander Isak, broke the British transfer record after joining from Newcastle United, yet the Sweden striker has yet to make his much-anticipated debut. Despite this influx of talent, the club's defensive situation remains a puzzle—one that could become even more complicated in the coming months.
At the heart of the swirling speculation is Joe Gomez, a player whose versatility and experience have made him both a target and a linchpin. Reports from multiple outlets, including MilanLive and Anfield Index, confirm that AC Milan is gearing up for a 'serious attempt' to lure the England international to the San Siro in January 2026. The Italian giants previously tabled a £13 million bid in the frantic final hours of the summer window, but negotiations stalled due to time constraints and Liverpool's hesitancy to sanction a move without securing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace as a replacement.
Milan's interest in Gomez is no passing fancy. The Serie A side values his ability to play both center-back and full-back, seeing him as the sort of adaptable defender who could shore up their backline for years to come. According to MilanLive, "Milan see Gomez as a versatile option capable of strengthening their backline, and their renewed intent signals genuine interest." The failed summer move hasn't dampened their enthusiasm; if anything, it has only emboldened Milan's resolve to get the deal done in January.
Liverpool's perspective, however, is far from straightforward. On paper, the club has four senior center-backs: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Joe Gomez, and the promising 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni, who arrived from Parma this summer. Yet, beneath the surface, the situation is fraught with uncertainty. Van Dijk, who recently inked a two-year extension, is expected to anchor the defense for at least two more seasons, but his long-term future remains an open question. Konaté, meanwhile, is reportedly eager for a move to Real Madrid, with contract extension talks having collapsed and a free transfer looming next summer unless Liverpool can orchestrate a sale in January.
Giovanni Leoni, while highly rated by Slot, remains untested at Premier League level. The Dutch manager is said to be confident in Leoni's potential, considering him "Premier League-ready," but the risk of relying on such a young player in the event of multiple departures is evident. As one Liverpool.com analysis put it, "Relying on Giovanni Leoni if there's an injury would be a precarious position for the Reds to be in, so they should not even be considering an offer should it arrive from Milan."
The club's transfer strategy is further complicated by their interest in reinforcing the defense with new signings. According to Fichajes, Liverpool are eyeing both Ronald Araújo and Marc Guehi as potential recruits. Araújo, currently at Barcelona, is valued at £43.56 million, while Guehi is expected to be available for around £33 million—a price that could drop if Liverpool waits until his contract situation changes next summer. Yet, with Slot reportedly insistent on waiting for Guehi, the prospect of losing both Gomez and Konaté in January without immediate replacements seems a gamble too far.
Supporters are caught in a bind. Gomez, who has been at Anfield since 2015, has weathered injuries and fluctuations in form but remains a valued squad member, particularly given his ability to cover multiple positions. As Lewis Steele described, Gomez is a "vital part of Slot’s set-up." The memory of the injury crisis that derailed Liverpool's 2020/21 campaign lingers, making the notion of thinning the squad's defensive ranks mid-season a risky proposition. Many fans see Milan's pursuit as flattering but potentially destabilizing if not managed with surgical precision.
From AC Milan's vantage point, the timing feels right. Their failed summer bid was reportedly thwarted by "very little time to reach an agreement and complete the medical processes required," as MilanLive noted. Now, with months to plan, Milan's sporting director Igli Tare is said to be orchestrating a renewed push for Gomez, undeterred by the previous setback. The Italian press suggests that Gomez himself is open to the move, adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding saga.
Meanwhile, the broader context of Liverpool's squad evolution cannot be ignored. The club's record investment in the summer has raised expectations, but also left certain positions—most notably center-back—looking thin. The failed pursuit of Guehi and the uncertainty around Konaté's future have only heightened the stakes. Slot's preference to wait for Guehi until he is available on a free transfer next summer makes financial sense, but football is rarely so simple. The risk of injuries or unforeseen departures could leave Liverpool exposed in a season where they aim to compete on multiple fronts, including the Premier League and Champions League.
The January window, then, looms as a potential turning point. If Milan returns with a substantial offer for Gomez and Real Madrid intensifies their pursuit of Konaté, Liverpool could be forced into a defensive shakeup far sooner than anticipated. The club's ability to balance long-term planning with immediate squad needs will be tested, and the decisions made in the coming months could shape the trajectory of Slot's tenure at Anfield.
As things stand, the situation remains fluid. AC Milan's determination to sign Joe Gomez is clear, and Liverpool's defensive depth hangs in the balance. With the January window fast approaching and multiple moving parts in play, all eyes will be on Anfield to see how the Reds navigate this high-stakes transfer chess match. Whatever happens next, one thing is certain—the story is far from over.
