Charlton Athletic's 18-year-old defender Joe Gomez is poised to become Liverpool's fourth signing of the summer after a £3.5 million fee was agreed between the clubs. The England Under 19 international will join new recruits James Milner, Danny Ings and Adam Bogdan as Liverpool look to mount a top four challenge next season. The young defender is believed to have a release clause, which Liverpool have opted to trigger, and will likely replace the departing Sebastian Coates and in the process list as backup to Liverpool's first choice defenders. The deal is reportedly on the verge of a conclusion, with Gomez and his agent due to meet officials this Friday to finalise talks and undergo a medical. Gomez will follow in the footsteps of Jonjo Shelvey, Diego Poyet and Carl Jenkinson, becoming the latest Charlton player to graduate to the Premier League after coming through the Addicks' academy. He will become the third Englishman to join the reds this summer, although some Liverpool fans remain concerned at the fact that the signings to date aren't much of an improvement on what the club already has. The defender has only played one season at Charlton, completing 21 appearances, but the talent he's displayed has been enough to catch the eye of some of the country's top clubs. Story source: The Guardian.