Liverpool are believed to be interested in Charlton Athletic defender Joe Gomez, as per recent reports.

The 18-year-old is believed to have been subject of interest for at least the past year, with scouts from the Premier League club having watched Gomez - valued at £3.5 million - throughout the 2014-15 campaign.

Gomez was a part of the England under-17s squad which won the UEFA European Under-17 Championship last season and he made 21 first-team appearances for Charlton in the Sky Bet Championship last season.

Funds to be generated by Coates sale 

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is prepared to make funds for the teenager by selling Uruguayan centre-back Sebastian Coates, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland and is not in the Northern Irishman's plans. 

The Black Cats are believed to be close to completing a £4 million deal for Coates, who has made just 24 first-team displays for Liverpool since joining for £4.9 million in 2011.

Coates only played 13 times at the Stadium of Light throughout last term, but Dick Advocaat - who will remain as manager next year - is believed to be keen on keeping the towering defender permanently.

Reds lining up raft of signings

Liverpool believe that that the money brought in from selling Coates would allow them to table an initial offer of £3.5 million for Gomez, including potential performance-related add-ons in the deal.

The Reds are yet to make an official offer to Charlton for the England under-19 international, despite interest from the likes of Arsenal and Aston Villa, with the Championship club believed to be looking for a £7 million total fee after add-ons.

Gomez only signed a new contract at the Valley in October 2014, having been at the Addicks since the age of 13 and is one of several players Liverpool are interested in.

The Reds have already announcemed agreed deals with out-of-contract trio James Milner, Danny Ings and most recently Adam Bogdan - Rodgers is also set to table an improved offer for Southampton full-back Nathaniel Clyne, whilst Christian Benteke of Villa, is still believed to be of interest.