Liverpool urged to sign John Stones after Gomez withdrawal highlights defensive depth concerns

Liverpool’s defensive depth chart is starting to look less like a plan and more like a wish list. Joe Gomez’s withdrawal from match action has reignited calls for the club to pursue Manchester City’s John Stones, an experienced England international who has already confirmed he’ll leave the Etihad at the end of the 2025/26 season.

No official bid or formal approach has been made. But the conversations happening around Anfield right now tell you everything about where the club’s most urgent needs lie.

The Gomez problem

Joe Gomez’s situation at Liverpool has become one of those slow-burning storylines that suddenly catches fire. His withdrawal from recent matches has forced the club’s hand in terms of defensive planning, and the timing could hardly be worse, with preseason preparations for a demanding 2026/27 campaign already underway.

Gomez is entering the final year of his contract. That’s the kind of detail that transforms a tactical inconvenience into a full-blown strategic headache.

When your backup center-back is simultaneously injured and potentially walking out the door for free, you don’t have a depth problem. You have two problems wearing the same jersey number.

Why Stones makes sense on paper

John Stones is the kind of defender who makes highlight reels for reasons most center-backs never do. His ball-playing ability from deep has been a cornerstone of Manchester City’s possession-based system for years, and his experience at the highest level of club and international football is difficult to replicate on the open market.

The financial calculus is straightforward. Stones has announced his departure from City, which means Liverpool wouldn’t need to negotiate a transfer fee. In a market where even average defenders command significant sums, a free transfer for a player of Stones’ pedigree looks like the kind of deal that makes sporting directors sleep well at night.

The counterargument writes itself, though. Stones has had his own injury history over the years. Signing a player to solve a fitness-related depth crisis only works if that player can stay fit himself.

Liverpool’s defensive crossroads

Liverpool’s defensive planning for 2026/27 exists within a broader context that makes inaction genuinely risky. The upcoming schedule includes World Cup implications, which means key players could face extended absences or arrive back from international duty carrying fatigue and knocks.

The speculation around Stones has generated significant fan engagement, which tells you something about the anxiety levels within the supporter base. The current dialogue surrounding the transfer remains largely speculative, driven by fan enthusiasm rather than any formal engagement from Liverpool FC’s management team.

If Stones does become available on a free transfer, the risk-reward equation tilts heavily in Liverpool’s favor. Even accounting for his age and injury record, acquiring a proven international defender without a transfer fee gives the club financial flexibility to address other positions simultaneously.

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