Liverpool will be looking to retain the Premier League title next season, with Arne Slot likely throwing everything he has at every competition.
The Reds were the most dominant team in England by some distance last season, with Slot hitting the ground running almost instantly.
With this in mind, there is no wonder why the Anfield outfit have been linked with so many players as they look to prove their dominance once again.
One player who has recently cropped up as a potential target is Crystal Palace’s captain Marc Guehi.
The Englishman only has a year left on his current deal, which means that the Eagles are trying to ship him out for a cut-rate fee of £45million.
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final
Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
This price tag has piqued the interest of Liverpool, but seeing as though he wouldn’t want to come in as a third-choice centre back, the main question to ask is whether the Reds actually need him.
Liverpool should use Wataru Endo as their fourth-choice centre-back next season
Since Wataru Endo arrived at Liverpool, the Japan international has become something of a cult hero.
Every single fan you speak to adores the midfielder, and every time he’s brought on, he’s always one of the most active players on the pitch.
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Granted, he’s not good enough to be a regular starter for Liverpool, but as a fourth-choice centre-back, he’d be an ideal fit.
At the moment, the Reds have three senior centre-backs among their ranks in Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez.
Gomez would obviously be the third choice now he’s set to stay, but since he can play across the back four, if someone such as Jeremie Frimpong or Kostas Tsimikas needed a rest, he could be used there, allowing Endo a chance to play.
Wataru Endo pictured holding the Premier League title.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Endo’s defensive awareness is second-to-none, and although he may not be as fast as some of his teammates, the way he can read a game more than makes up for it.
The Japanese midfielder is also very composed on the ball and hasn’t made any massive mistakes yet.
What could Liverpool spend their money on if they don’t sign a centre-back
Liverpool have already brought in a fair few new faces and have also said goodbye to some long-term members of their squad.
However, in order to keep up with their title rivals, changes have to be made, which is exactly what they’re doing.
Players such as Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz have already been linked with moves away, and if both or even one of them departs, the Reds would be quite thin up top.
This is why, instead of signing a new defender, Slot should look into bolstering his strike force with someone such as Alexander Isak or Hugo Ekitike.
Both of the aforementioned duo have been linked with an Anfield switch since the transfer window opened, and with the money Liverpool would save by not buying a defender, they’d be able to put some of it towards a new number nine.
At the end of the day, nobody knows what the future has in store, but on the face of things, using Endo as their fourth-choice centre-back next term makes a lot of sense.
That is, especially when Guehi will be available on a free transfer next summer.