New Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has revealed that Brendan Rodgers played a huge role in convincing him to join from Charlton on Friday.
Gomez emerged as one of the top young talents in the Championship in the 2014-15 campaign, making 21 appearances for the Addicks.
The 18-year-old, who is a product of the Charlton youth set-up, joined for a fee of £3.5million after agreeing a five-year deal with Liverpool, who can be backed at 19.00 to win the Premier League next season.
The defender is expected to be loaned out for the 2015-16 campaign and may even return to his boyhood club to continue his development.
Rodgers has been one of the busier Premier League managers since the conclusion of last term, bringing in James Milner and Adam Bogdan on free deals and with a compensation fee set to be handed to Burnley for Danny Ings.
The former Charlton man admitted that he was relishing the opportunity to work under Rodgers and insists the manager was influential in persuading him to join.
Gomez said: “Yes, 100 per cent (Rodgers was a factor in joining). Being a young player, I know that opportunities can be slim sometimes. But under a manager like Brendan, it speaks for itself. That’s why I was really keen to come here and play under him.
“I have met him once and he seemed really nice. It made me want to come here even more really.
“He just told me how good it is here and how he thinks he can help me get better, the opportunities I would get – things that would make me want to come to Liverpool.”
The England under-19 international can play as a centre-half or right-back and believes he has the potential to grow into a leader.
He added: “I like to think I’m a ball-playing centre-back who likes to be physical and has got a bit of pace. I’d like to say I’m a leader as well.”
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