Liverpool star has ‘one foot out’ as he’s ‘not part of Slot’s plans’ with ‘surprise replacement’ revealed

Liverpool fans woke up today to yet another storm at Anfield, a storm that nobody saw coming, but one that might shape the club’s season and even the future of a player who once looked untouchable. Reports have now revealed that Joe Gomez, the man who has been at Liverpool since 2015, the man who survived injuries, title wins, and the long shadow of Virgil van Dijk, has “one foot out” of the club. Even worse, the reports claim he is no longer part of Arne Slot’s plans. And just when fans thought the centre-back situation couldn’t get more complicated, Liverpool are said to be exploring the unlikeliest of solutions, with midfielder Wataru Endo being lined up as a surprise replacement at centre-back. This is the kind of twist that shakes supporters to their core.

The situation started with Giovanni Leoni’s cruel injury. The young Italian was supposed to be Liverpool’s future at the back, a defender signed to carry the torch when Van Dijk eventually slows down. But football can be brutal. One moment of bad luck, one turn of the knee, and Leoni’s season has been ripped apart with an ACL injury. Suddenly, Slot’s defence looks fragile. Without Leoni, Liverpool are left with just Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and Gomez as natural central defenders. And for a team chasing the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and everything in between, that is nowhere near enough.

What makes it worse is that Liverpool had chances to fix this. They went hard for Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace’s captain, all summer. The move looked like it would happen, but on deadline day it collapsed. Guehi stayed at Palace, and Liverpool were left exposed. It now looks like that failure might come back to haunt them, because the cracks are already showing. Konaté is brilliant but made of glass. Gomez is reliable when fit but has his own long history of injuries. If either of them go down, the Reds could be left scrambling for answers.

And yet, despite the lack of cover, Joe Gomez’s name is once again being pushed towards the exit door. Reports in Italy claim AC Milan still see him as a “priority target.” They chased him hard in the summer, but Liverpool blocked the deal at the last second, knowing they had no backup. Now, though, the talk is that Slot doesn’t see Gomez as part of his long-term vision. At 28, with a contract until 2027, Gomez should be in the prime of his career. But instead, he finds himself as a utility man, shuffled between right-back, left-back, and centre-back, never first choice, always second.

For years, Liverpool fans have loved Gomez for his loyalty, his versatility, and his courage. He was there in the 2019-20 title-winning side, partnering Van Dijk to form one of the best defences the Premier League has seen. He was there in the Champions League triumph. But football moves quickly. New managers bring new ideas, and Slot seems to prefer Konaté and Van Dijk as his pairing, with plans to bring in a younger star like Guehi to build for the future. That leaves Gomez stuck in limbo, and the whispers of an exit are growing louder with every passing week.

If AC Milan get their way, Gomez could be wearing red and black by January. The Italian giants are rebuilding their defence, and they believe Gomez’s pace, experience, and versatility make him a perfect fit. The player himself is said to be growing frustrated. He stayed in the summer, believing he would get his chance, but so far, he is still seen as a backup. Patience is running thin, and nobody would be surprised if he finally takes the plunge and heads abroad.

But here is the real twist, the part that has left fans in shock. With Leoni injured and Guehi out of reach, Liverpool are now seriously considering turning to Wataru Endo as emergency centre-back cover. That’s right, the 31-year-old Japanese midfielder who has spent his career protecting the defence, not leading it, could now be asked to step into the backline. Pete O’Rourke explained it simply: Liverpool are desperate. Endo has never been a centre-back at professional level, but in a crisis, Slot might have no choice. It is a move that screams of risk, but also of necessity.

For Liverpool supporters, the news is a mixture of sadness, worry, and disbelief. How can a club of this size, a club that prides itself on planning and ambition, be left so short at the back? How can they talk about fighting Manchester City and Arsenal for the title while relying on a midfielder to cover at centre-back? And how can they even think about letting Joe Gomez leave when they are already stretched to the limit?

The reality is that the club is caught between short-term survival and long-term planning. Gomez leaving might make sense if Guehi or another young centre-back arrives in 2026, but that doesn’t solve the problem now. Endo might do a job for one or two games, but if injuries pile up, the whole season could collapse. That is why this story has exploded among fans. It feels like a gamble, one that could either hold together or end in disaster.

For Joe Gomez, the dilemma is personal. Stay at Liverpool, fight for scraps of minutes, and hope injuries or rotation give him chances? Or take the leap, head to Italy, and start fresh in a league that values defenders and where he could become a leader? At 28, this is a career-defining decision. If he stays and gets pushed further down the pecking order, he risks being remembered as the player who never quite became first choice. If he leaves, he might finally step out of Van Dijk’s shadow and show the world what he can do.

Liverpool’s story is always full of drama, and this is no different. A star with one foot out, a manager forced to consider wild solutions, and a fanbase left asking how it came to this. The truth is simple: the Guehi deal falling apart has left a hole, and now everyone is scrambling to cover it. Whether Gomez stays or goes, whether Endo actually plays at centre-back or not, the fact that these conversations are happening shows how fragile the squad is in defence.

The rest of the season could now hinge on this. If Gomez stays and steps up, he could save the club. If he leaves and Endo has to fill in, Liverpool could find themselves in crisis. The margins are thin, and the stakes are high. This is the reality of modern football. One injury, one failed transfer, one unhappy player, and the whole balance shifts.

What happens next will define not just Joe Gomez’s career, but also Liverpool’s season. Will Slot trust him, or push him away? Will AC Milan get their man, or be frustrated again? Will Endo really be thrown into defence, or will the January window bring a new signing? These are the questions hanging over Anfield, and every fan knows the answers will decide whether this year ends in glory or disappointment.

For now, all we know is this: Joe Gomez has one foot out of Anfield, and Liverpool’s defence is hanging by a thread.