Liverpool is set to ramp up its interest in Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi, who has been lauded as a leader by his Three Lions teammate Phil Foden. The Reds will soon be on the lookout for a new center-back due to the probable exit of Jarell Quansah.
In April, Liverpool's defense was strengthened when captain Virgil van Dijk agreed to a new two-year contract at Anfield. However, it seems that the Reds' options will be diminished with the likely departure of Quansah.
The 22-year-old is on the verge of sealing a $47 million move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. Aside from the club's skipper, only Ibrahima Konate and the versatile Joe Gomez would remain as senior options in the center-half position should Quansah depart.
Attention could then turn to the transfer market, and Guehi has emerged as a potential target. The 24-year-old has previously been commended by international colleague and Manchester City star Foden as a key figure in the Three Lions dressing room.
The Telegraph reports that with Quansah all but confirmed for a move to Germany, Guehi, who has one year left on his current deal at Selhurst Park, has surfaced as a target for the Reds. While an expected fee is unknown, the Eagles turned down a $94M bid from Tottenham in January.
Foden has been full of praise for Liverpool's potential new signing Guehi, following his standout performances at Euro 2024, suggesting that the Reds could be securing a pivotal figure for the dressing room. "He has been a leader," Foden enthused on England's official YouTube channel.
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace with the FA Cup
Marc Guehi has been linked with a move to Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)
"I know him well from obviously playing with him and he's not fazed by anything. I feel like he has come into the team and shown his qualities."
It's not just Foden who's been singing Guehi's praises; ex-Liverpool forward Michael Owen also extolled the defender's virtues after his impressive displays during the tournament.
"He's proven in this tournament that he's very good. Left-sided center-halves are like gold dust these days, people want them," Owen remarked to Prime Casino. "He's proven he can play at a really high level, so I've no doubt he would be capable of playing for a club like Liverpool."
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Since his move to Crystal Palace from Chelsea in 2021, Guehi has become a cornerstone of their squad, notably contributing to their memorable FA Cup final triumph over Foden's Manchester City in May.
Amid the swirling transfer rumors ahead of the Wembley showdown, Guehi kept his feet on the ground when discussing his future, without dismissing the possibility of a switch.
"I think the most important thing is just always doing the best that I can for this football club," he declared. "I come in every day and I try to be the same. I try to work hard. And you know, this football club has given me a lot.
"I'm still under contract at this football club, so my focus is always at this football club. So, you know, for me, the most important is just doing the best I can and seeing where the future holds."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Mirror by clicking here.