[article=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/11674898/Liverpool-transfer-news-Brendan-Rodgers-to-bid-for-Charlton-and-England-U19-defender-Joe-Gomez.html]Brendan Rodgers is set to offer £3.5 million for Charlton Athletic teenager Joe Gomez as he prepares to offload Sebastián Coates to Sunderland.
Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, will step up his interest in Gomez with a bid this week and attempt to win the race for one of English football’s emerging young talents.
Arsenal and Aston Villa are also keen on Gomez, 18, who appears certain to leave Charlton this summer with the Championship club looking for a transfer fee of £7m after various add-ons.
Rodgers has been aware of the centre-half’s ability for some time and sees him as a replacement for Coates, who is due to join Sunderland for around £4m.
Gomez has only made 21 league starts but is already highly regarded, winning four caps at England under-19 level, and has also been a long-term target for Arsène Wenger.
Tim Sherwood, the Aston Villa manager, is also a huge admirer after first becoming aware of Gomez during his time in charge of Tottenham Hotspur’s academy. However, any bid is certain to be complicated by the prospect of an imminent takeover with one consortium being granted exclusivity.
Rodgers has already made an inquiry but is expected to table an offer in the next few days.
Coates, the Uruguay international, will end his four-year association with Liverpool by agreeing to join Dick Advocaat at Sunderland.
The 24-year-old spent part of last season on loan at the Stadium of Light and is poised to complete a permanent move.
Liverpool also maintain an interest in Villa striker Christian Benteke and Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne but are expecting another bid from Manchester City for Raheem Sterling in the next 48 hours.[/article]
It's not written by Chris Bascombe, by the way.
