Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson has delivered his verdict on Liverpool securing the future of Joe Gomez.
The lowdown: New contract for Gomez
Following increased speculation linking him with a move away from Anfield, the 25-year-old recently opted to sign a new deal which will keep him on Merseyside until at least 2027.
The England international had previously been a mainstay in Jurgen Klopp's side but slipped down the pecking order with the Reds after the arrival and subsequent impact of Ibrahima Konate, as well as the impressive form of first-choice partnership Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip.
Despite an apparent lack of a clear pathway back into Klopp's starting plans, Gomez committed his future to the Reds, a decision that one pundit has heralded as somewhat of a masterstroke from the club.
The latest: Robinson praises Gomez
Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds United stopper Robinson claimed that tying down the 11-cap England defender is a huge feather in Liverpool's cap, adding that the Reds could demand up to £60m for him further down the line.
The Sky Sports contributor said of Gomez: “I think he’s obviously got a great relationship with Jurgen Klopp. Klopp has promised him that there is some kind of future there, and I think it’s a fantastic signing for Liverpool.
“They’ve secured their asset for the next five years, and they now go into this season with four top-class centre-halves.
“It’s brilliant because if he plays then they have the player they wanted, but if he only plays a bit-part role – his value will only go up. They could have a £50-60million centre-half on their hands.”
The verdict: On the money
Make no mistake, had a player of Gomez's calibre been on the market this summer, clubs would have been queueing up to take the Englishman from Liverpool for a hefty fee.
Already boasting a trophy cabinet containing the Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, the former Charlton academy prospect has played an integral role in much of the Reds' success in the Klopp era, amassing 142 senior appearances since joining the club.
However, he endured a dramatic reduction in game-time last season, with Gomez only managing 21 appearances across all competitions, completing 90 minutes on just 11 occasions.
That could easily have led to disenchantment for the Londoner, but FSG and Julian Ward have managed to keep their man in situ, having already secured new terms for Mohamed Salah before seemingly moving onto an injury-hit Diogo Jota next.
Potentially fighting on all four fronts once again this coming season, with five substitutes now also in play and a World Cup in the middle of the campaign, Klopp will no doubt have made certain guarantees to the defender - who he once dubbed 'a sensational footballer' - regarding forthcoming opportunities to prove his worth once again.