Liverpool lack quality centre-back options heading into the 2026 January transfer window.
With Giovanni Leoni out injured for the remainder of the season, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez are the only natural players in the position.
Konate’s form has been poor for much of 2025/26, while Gomez is covering at right-back currently, thanks to injuries to Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong.
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Amid a severe lack of depth and quality, it was not surprising to see it claimed previously that Liverpool could sign Marc Guehi in the upcoming winter window after a failed move earlier this year.
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Liverpool and Real Madrid transfer interest in Marc Guehi
However, the future of the Crystal Palace centre-back remains unclear after a couple of updates on Tuesday.
Guehi is set to leave Selhurst Park for free at the end of June, but a potential switch to Liverpool in January now looks less likely.
The Athletic have reported that though the stopper is of interest to the Premier League champions, the chances of a winter move are slim.
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On the plus side, it doesn’t look as though Real Madrid are that keen on the England international right now.
Madrid were linked with Guehi in October, but another report from The Athletic is now saying that he is not a priority for Los Blancos right now.
Marc Guehi in action for England during a friendly against Wales at Wembley Stadium
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Liverpool’s Marc Guehi alternatives
Should Guehi not move in January, there may be other options for the Merseyside outfit to explore.
Alessandro Bastoni has been offered to Liverpool, as RTK previously revealed, though the Reds are not thought to have made a bid at this stage.
It is thought that Nico Schlotterbeck moving to Anfield is more likely than a deal for the Italian being completed.
Meanwhile, as his contract at Bayern Munich continues to run down, Dayot Upamecano is linked.
However, though they are yet to agree fresh terms with the Frenchman, who can sign pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs from January, Bayern insist they want to keep Upamecano.
Director of Sport Max Eberl said: “Upamecano is one of the best defenders in the world. We would like to keep him at the peak of his career as internal star signing.”
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