The bold £40m late window signing Aston Villa can make to thrive in Europe and Premier League

3 Added Minutes has learned that both Chelsea and Aston Villa have shown interest in Joe Gomez, who is looking to leave Liverpool this summer in search of regular playing time.

The 27-year-old England centre-back has been at Anfield since the age of 18 when he made a significant leap from Charlton Athletic. After nine years as a Red, during which he won both the Champions League and the Premier League title, Gomez believes now is the right time to find a new place to call home.

Gomez has excused himself from the Liverpool squad preparing to take on Brentford this weekend as he explores his transfer options. Aston Villa have expressed interest, and what a signing he would be for Unai Emery’s side.

His experience playing for a title-challenging Liverpool team would be invaluable for an Aston Villa side looking to transition from challenging for a UEFA Champions League spot to establishing themselves as a regular top-four Premier League team.

Villa will be playing in the Champions League for the first time since the 1982/83 season—a remarkable achievement for Villa fans. Gomez’s experience in this competition cannot be understated, as he has all the qualities to be a key and influential member of the team. In fact, he played in the final of the 2018/19 edition when Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur to win the title.

His versatility is another key factor; the centre-back has deputised for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back under Jurgen Klopp on several occasions. Unai Emery would have in him a player who can reliably fill in at right-back when Matty Cash is unavailable or needs a rest due to the volume of games Villa will face. Emery is one of the most underrated managers around, and when he opts for a pragmatic approach, few can match him. There’s a strong possibility that Gomez could develop even further under his guidance.

Additionally, Gomez's ability to play in defensive midfield makes him a valuable asset. In situations where a more defensive approach is required, Emery could deploy Gomez in central midfield, a position he has played a few times under Klopp, particularly during last season’s injury crisis at Liverpool. He helped the Reds secure wins against Nottingham Forest in the league and Southampton in the FA Cup while playing in midfield.

This transfer would also be beneficial for Gomez. He would become a starter at a highly competitive team, boosting his chances with the England national team and possibly helping him break into the starting XI. Marc Guehi, who until recently wasn’t a regular for England, worked his way into becoming a key player at the Euros—something that should motivate Joe Gomez to push on to greater things.

Time is ticking, and Aston Villa should act quickly to wrap up this deal, lest Newcastle United turn their attention to Gomez, as they struggle to agree on a transfer fee with Palace for their primary central defence target, Guehi. The Eagles themselves could consider signing Gomez as a replacement should they lose Guehi to Eddie Howe’s side, but right now he’s Villa’s for the taking.