As reported by The Liverpool Echo, Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is desperate to stay and fight for his place in the team at Anfield rather than head out on loan over the coming season.

What's the story?

Gomez has had a real struggle over the last two years to win his way into first team plans at the Reds after a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury sidelined him for over a year.

Over the last six months he's tried to convince Jurgen Klopp he deserves more match time but has had to make do with cup appearances only.

According to The Liverpool Echo, that's led to teams like English Premier League new boys Brighton & Hove Albion hoping to sign him on loan this summer.

However, that's not what Gomez wants at all.

As quoted by the paper, the defender said:

My main aim is to play here for Liverpool and under this manager. My target is to get regular football and I want to play at the top level and that’s what I am focused on at the moment. I feel 100%. I know that this pre-season is a big opportunity for me to hit the ground running again. I feel like I just have to keep pushing and try to take every opportunity that I can to progress and keep learning.

It'll be encouraging for Reds fans to hear the young defender has serious ambition to make it at the club although he will have to fight hard for places with Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and even the possibility of an incoming signing to contend with.

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