Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is considering his Anfield future after it emerged the England international almost left the club last month as part of a swap deal for Anthony Gordon.

The Merseyside club were prepared to sacrifice Gomez in a move to make Liverpool-born Gordon the first signing of the Arne Slot era.

During the discussions, Liverpool indicated they would accept £45 million for their long-serving centre back. Newcastle were willing to take £75 million for Gordon, meaning he would effectively have moved to his hometown club for £30 million plus Gomez. Liverpool had earlier rejected Newcastle’s approach for Jarell Quansah to move to St James’ Park as part of the transfer.

However, the deal involving Gomez and Gordon fell through as Newcastle were able to meet their profit and sustainability requirements through other player sales. There has been no contact between the clubs since then, and there has been no indication Newcastle will entertain fresh offers for their 23-year-old winger despite Liverpool’s interest now being an open secret.

Gomez is yet to start pre-season training and will be given the chance to impress Slot, who is not proactively trying to sell the 27-year-old. The Newcastle situation is now perceived to have been an opportunity explored due to the circumstances Eddie Howe’s side found themselves in with a financial deadline looming. The knock-on effect is it means Gomez can go for the right price.

He is in a similar category to several Liverpool squad members, who have been given the chance to prove their futures are at Anfield but realistically face a season as back-ups if they do not leave before the end of August.

Youngster Fabio Carvalho is in a similar situation. Carvalho spent last season on loan to RB Leipzig and then Hull City. Liverpool are not entertaining loan bids anymore, but Carvalho will know his first team opportunities will be limited once Slot has a full contingent.

If he goes, it will be for a considerable fee and most likely later in the transfer window.

It also emerged this week that Liverpool rejected an £11 million bid for defensive midfielder Wataru Endo from Marseille earlier in the transfer window. Liverpool were never likely to take such an offer seriously – especially as losing a specialist number six would weaken their midfield options. Liverpool are unlikely to offload any senior players without having replacements lined up, nor at a loss. They paid £16 million for Endo last summer and he enjoyed a good campaign.

However, the early indications of the Slot era suggest he wants a number six who is a playmaker rather than a ball-winning anchorman or ‘water-carrier’ and it was telling during the club’s first pre-season game against Real Betis that Curtis Jones and 17-year-old Trey Nyoni were preferred in the position, the latter especially impressive in the 1-0 win.

Liverpool play their second game of the US tour against Arsenal tonight.