Albion could be about to sign a future Rio Ferdinand.

The Seagulls are hoping to land versatile young defender Joe Gomez on loan from Liverpool for their debut season in the Premier League.

Gomez, who can play at right-back or centre-back, idolised Ferdinand when he was growing up in London.

The 20-year-old former Charlton defender wants to eventually emulate Ferdinand as a ball-playing central defender.

Gomez told the South London Press when he was at Charlton: "I'll look to mature there (centre-half) over a length of time. But it is easier for my development now to come in at right-back - I'd never turn that down.

"I always looked up to Ferdinand when I was younger because he was an English centre-back at the top level - plus he was a ball-playing one too.

"To emulate his career would be amazing. I'm just looking to thrive."

Arsenal fan Gomez was only 17 when he made his first team debut at Charlton.

Liverpool bought him for more than £3.5 million two years ago and awarded him a five-year contract when Brendan Rodgers was in charge.

His first team opportunities at Anfield have been limited by a bad knee injury, which kept him out for 15 months, but Rodgers' successor Jurgen Klopp rates him highly.

Gomez has also been linked with Bournemouth and a reunion with Rodgers at Celtic as Klopp weighs up his best option.

Albion can point to other bright young English talents like Jesse Lingard and Fikayo Tomori benefiting from loan spells at the Amex.