Liverpool cannot afford to sell player who's just become vital for Andoni Iraola

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And there's an argument to be made that he has never been more important to the cause.The versatile and long-serving defender now forms part of a four-man centre-back department that sees each of that quartet enter the Andoni Iraola era with question marks hanging over them.For Virgil van Dijk, he is the now 35-year-old club captain with only 12 months left on his Reds contract.Liverpool, whether they liked it or not, have been confronted for some time by the prospect of a squad without the talismanic skipper, who celebrates his birthday today and whose enduring importance remains. The 19-year-old Italian simply has to get back to full fitness after a debilitating ACL injury sustained last September on his only Reds appearance to date.The former Parma youngster has been back at the AXA Training Centre continuing that process but it would be grossly unfair to push Leoni into a comeback before he is 100% given the intensity of the Premier League and the general expectations at Anfield.Like Jacquet, Leoni will need time to settle before he can show why the club's recruitment team rated him as the best young centre-back in Italy last August.

That is doubly true given he is now returning off the back of such a serious issue.This is why Gomez's value has increased for Liverpool before a pre-season ball has been kicked.It's six years now since he regularly played as a centre-back in the Premier League and the Londoner has become something of a utility man at Anfield since the Reds won the title under Jurgen Klopp.Appearances in either full-back spot have tended to be the norm in the Premier League with centre-half starts mainly coming in the domestic cups.But given the challenges for both Jacquet and Leoni - issues that have been factored into the equation at Anfield - it means Gomez could be set to reprise his partnership with Van Dijk on a more regular basis in the coming months.Now into the final year of his contract, the former Charlton Athletic youngster conceded in May that he was unsure as to how the summer transfer window would play out."I think anything can happen," he said. I’ve only got a year left on my contract, so I don’t know.

Whatever’s meant to be will be, but I’m so grateful to have had this time here at this club."I always will be grateful to have had 11 years at a place like this. All I can do is be thankful and we’ll see."A target for Newcastle United in 2024 before Crystal Palace and AC Milan also held talks last year, it's fair to say Gomez, now 29, would be inundated with offers should he communicate his desire to leave this summer.But given his quality, experience, and ability to perform in several positions, Gomez should feel as though his stock is as high as it has been for quite some time right now at Liverpool.And at a time when there is so much uncertainty around a squad that is continuing to evolve under its third manager in four seasons, the surety of Gomez can act as a balm for Iraola and a Reds defensive department that has experienced so much upheaval in the last couple of years.With Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson now gone and Jacquet, Leoni, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong all present, the backline has had a revolving door attached to it since last summer.The final year of Gomez's contract might prevent the asking price from becoming astronomical, but Liverpool will feel they are better served keeping him than agreeing to any cut-price sale right now.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!