Liverpool are hoping to bolster their defence under Arne Slot this season
Liverpool have endured more lows than highs this season, with the club currently battling for Champions League qualification in the Premier League. Few expected the reigning league champions to find themselves in this position after spending close to £450m on new signings last summer. It appeared that the Reds were preparing to dominate English football for years to come under Arne Slot’s stewardship.
However, it is fair to say that the wheels have come off for the Dutch tactician, as his side have struggled to find consistency in recent months. The recent draw against Fulham saw Liverpool drop two more points away from home, increasing the pressure on Slot to turn things around at the Merseyside club. There are several glaring issues within the squad that need to be addressed if the Reds are to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal in the coming months.
Liverpool risk missing out on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
Liverpool risk missing out on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
Chief among those concerns is the need for a new centre-back in the second half of the campaign. For now, Arne Slot has been heavily dependent on Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk to steady the back line and help the club navigate its current struggles. However, it is clear that Liverpool require greater depth and quality at centre-back if they are to mount another serious challenge for the Premier League title.
Liverpool remain keen on signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace
With Konate entering the final six months of his contract at Anfield, it makes sense for the Merseyside club to begin exploring potential replacements for his position.
James Pearce believes that Liverpool will move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi in the summer after missing out on the England international at the eleventh hour in August. Writing for The Athletic, Pearce said,
“Liverpool retain a strong interest in England defender Marc Guehi, who was on the brink of moving to Anfield last summer before Crystal Palace pulled the plug. Since then, they have regarded him as a target for this summer, when Guehi will be a free agent, with the belief that he will not be available in January. It remains to be seen if Palace opt to cash in this month and if so, what offers are forthcoming, with Manchester City also among his suitors.”
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Guehi has long been a target for Liverpool, with the Reds expected to wait until next summer to secure his signature after it was believed that Crystal Palace would not sanction a mid-season departure. However, recent reports suggest that Manchester City are moving quickly to land the England international in the coming weeks as Pep Guardiola looks to strengthen his defence for the second half of the campaign.
Manchester City suddenly find themselves without two key centre-backs after Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol suffered injuries earlier this week. As a result, the Cityzens are prepared to fend off competition from Liverpool and lure Marc Guehi to the Etihad Stadium as they aim to challenge Arsenal for the Premier League title. It remains to be seen whether the Reds respond with a January move of their own, given concerns about their financial flexibility to sanction a big-money transfer.