
Liverpool FC has been thrown into turmoil following devastating news that young defender Giovanni Leoni will be sidelined for up to a year after sustaining a serious knee injury. The setback has plunged the Redsâ defensive setup into uncertainty â and whispers from inside Anfield suggest that Fenway Sports Group (FSG) may be preparing a shocking move to stabilize the squad: sacrificing Joe Gomez.â ď¸ The Leoni Setback and Liverpoolâs Defensive DilemmaArne Slotâs side is facing a familiar crisis. With Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima KonatĂŠ, and Joe Gomez as the only experienced center-backs remaining, Leoniâs long-term absence leaves Liverpool stretched thin at the back. The 18-year-oldâs season-ending injury â confirmed by Slot himself â couldnât have come at a worse time as the club battles across the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups.Slot admitted that Leoniâs situation reminded him of the difficult recoveries endured by both Van Dijk and Gomez earlier in their careers.> âHeâs only 18, so he has time on his side,â Slot said. âWhat matters most now is the environment around him â support, patience, and guidance.âThat âguidance,â interestingly, could come from Gomez himself â though his own future at Anfield now hangs in the balance.đŽđš AC Milanâs Interest Refuses to FadeDespite being one of Liverpoolâs longest-serving players, Joe Gomez once again finds his name in the headlines for transfer reasons. Reports in Italy claim that AC Milan have reignited their pursuit of the 29-year-old after narrowly missing out on his signature during the summer.Gomez, who can play as a center-back, right-back, or holding midfielder, has made only a handful of substitute appearances this season â a stark contrast to last year, when his versatility helped Liverpool survive a brutal injury crisis en route to domestic glory.However, with Van Dijk and KonatĂŠ locking down starting roles, Gomezâs opportunities have been limited â and that could tempt both the player and FSG to consider a parting of ways.đź FSGâs Strategic Gamble: Short-Term Gain or Long-Term Risk?According to multiple reports, FSG may approve Gomezâs departure only if a suitable replacement is secured in January. The logic is clear: a transfer fee for Gomez could finance the purchase of another top defender â possibly Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig) or Illia Zabarnyi (Bournemouth).Yet the risks are enormous. Selling Gomez could generate funds, but it would also strip the squad of an experienced backup in a period of defensive fragility. The failed move for Crystal Palaceâs Marc Guehi still lingers in fansâ minds as a missed opportunity, and repeating that mistake could prove costly.đ More Than a Player â A Mentor in the MakingBeyond tactics and transfers, thereâs a deeper story unfolding inside Melwood. Gomezâs influence in the dressing room has been vital â especially for the younger defenders. Slot has praised the England international for mentoring Leoni and helping him cope mentally after the injury.> âPlayers like Joe understand what Leoni is going through,â Slot said. âHeâs been there before, and that empathy is something money canât buy.âLosing Gomez, therefore, wouldnât just weaken the defense â it could also remove an emotional anchor for the recovering teenager.đŽ A Season That Could Define EverythingLiverpoolâs current predicament is as much about balance as it is about bravery. FSGâs next decision â whether to keep or cash in on Joe Gomez â could determine not just the outcome of this season, but also the direction of the clubâs long-term rebuild under Arne Slot.If they get it right, Liverpool might emerge stronger, with fresh reinforcements leading a renewed title charge. But if they gamble and lose? The consequences could echo throughout the rest of the campaign.For now, Gomez remains a Red. But with AC Milan circling and FSG weighing their options, Liverpoolâs defensive future â and perhaps their entire season â hangs by a thread.