Aston Villa journalist Ashley Preece has claimed that Steven Gerrard's side are interested in signing Liverpool defender Joe Gomez.

What's the story?

In a Birmingham Live Q&A, Preece stated: "Villa are monitoring his [Gomez's] situation," however a "summer move appears most likely. It's a goer, for sure."

The supporter who enquired about the likelihood of a move for the 24-year-old was also asking whether or not this swoop would only occur if Manchester United loanee Axel Tuanzabe was to depart and join Italian giants Napoli instead. This proposal was labelled as "complicated" by Preece.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Tuanzebe is set to cut his loan spell at Villa Park short and join the Serie A side, leaving the Villans in potential need of a new centre-back in January.

The 24-year-old's second loan spell at the West Midlands club hasn't proved as beneficial to the defender's career as the first, making nine Premier League appearances this campaign; two of which under Gerrard whereby the Englishman played a combined total of eight minutes.

Gomez was an important contributor to Liverpool's title success two seasons ago before suffering a season-ending knee injury last campaign.

However, after recovering from injury, the Englishman has had an uneventful campaign thus far, managing just 12 minutes in the Premier League all season.

Villa fans will be ecstatic

Gerrard may well look at bringing in a new defender during January and pulling off a swoop for Gomez would certainly be a statement of intent.

There's no doubt that the 24-year-old will be unhappy with his lack of game time this campaign under Jurgen Klopp and may be tempted if the prospect of a move, whether a loan or permanent, was to materialise over the coming month.

The Englishman's stock was rapidly rising before his injury, first winning the Champions League in 2019 and then the Premier League in 2020 alongside making a handful of England squads.

However, after a long time out his progress has halted and Gerrard may be able to offer the defender a lifeline.

Villa fans will surely be buzzing with a move for Gomez.