John Barnes does not believe the signing of Ibrahima Konate will be the end of Joe Gomez’s Liverpool career.
As reported by the ECHO on Friday morning, the Reds have decided to trigger Konate’s release clause at German side RB Leipzig.
It is believed that the Reds have made the move after making the 22-year-old their chief target as they look to bolster their centre-back options.
Konate has already agreed personal terms having indicated his desire to move to Anfield, with the deal expected to be confirmed in the next 48-hours.
The Frenchman will join a Liverpool squad that already includes centre-backs Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip, as well as Ben Davies, Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams.
Gomez hasn't featured since November having damaged a tendon in his left knee during a training session with England.
While Van Dijk, who suffered cruciate ligament damage in October, and Matip, who injured ankle ligaments in January, also spent most of the season on the sidelines.
“I don’t believe this signing will spell the end for Joe Gomez. Joe is one of the main centre-backs at Liverpool at this moment in time,” Barnes told BettingOdds.com.
“Just because Konate is coming in, that doesn’t mean he’s going to play well and take Joe’s place in the team.
“When Naby Keita came in, people expected him to take Jordan Henderson or whoever’s place in that midfield.
"But that hasn’t worked out, so you can’t look at the Konate situation and assume that spells the end for Joe.
"If Konate comes in and doesn’t fit, then he won’t play. Joe is an England international and he’s in a different position to say Nat Phillips because he can play all the time anyway and he’ll push Konate for that position.
“It won’t spell the end for Joe but it will be good for Liverpool to have more options.”
