Liverpool are experiencing a tough January so far, with matters on the pitch and off it.
Two draws against Leeds and Fulham to start the month have done little to salvage Arne Slot's soured reputation at Anfield, with the Reds now 14 points adrift top-of-the-table Arsenal in the Premier League.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates after the match
There have even been murmurs that Liverpool have a replacement lined up for the waning Dutchman, in the form of Xabi Alonso.
Moreover, barring a late twist in the tale that has been mentioned by Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp, Liverpool also looks likely to lose out on the £65m signature of Antoine Semenyo, as the Ghananian edges ever closer to pulling on Manchester City sky blue.
A medical is reportedly set in stone for Semenyo to swap AFC Bournemouth for the Etihad, as Liverpool shifts their focus to other targets...
Liverpool make calls to sign world-class star
Realistically, although the transfer window can throw up some dramatic, edge-of-your-seat moments, Liverpool do look to have come up short on Semenyo's coveted signature.
That doesn't mean they won't have other statement transfer targets in mind, however, with a £100m move for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba allegedly on their radar.
Brighton & Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba in action with Manchester City's Omar Marmoush
Alongside talk about Baleba coming to Anfield, rumours continue to persist regarding Liverpool making a January swoop for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.
Indeed, this does look to be yet another move where Man City are in the driver's seat, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has stated via his YouTube channel that Liverpool have made "calls" this month to try and snap up a late deal for a defender they very nearly got their hands back in the summer.
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi
Romano stated: "The doors are not closed to a January exit for Marc Guehi. Man City are on it, Man City are negotiating with Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi, but it’s not something done. It’s not something agreed.
"Don’t forget about Bayern calls. Don’t forget about Liverpool calls. The situation is moving around Marc Guehi because Bayern and Liverpool are tracking this opportunity for the summer transfer window."
Guehi is out of contract in the summer and likely to move on a free transfer, although he could move this January for a fee, thought to be around the £35m mark according to previous reports.
Why Guehi could be a better purchase than Semenyo
Liverpool has been troubled by some ineffective attacking performances of late, with former Reds legend Jamie Carragher stating after the Merseyside giants stumbled to a 0-0 draw against Leeds United that the underwhelming side has "certainly lost something in terms of excitement."
This is where Semenyo could come to the rescue, with the £65m-rated forward up to ten Premier League goals for the season, now, having bowed out from his very impressive stay with the Cherries with a last-gasp winner against Tottenham Hotspur.
That's why Redknapp was so desperate for Liverpool to launch a last-minute hijack, with the Sky Sports pundit hailing Semenyo as a "match-winner" who could transform the Reds' disappointing attack.
Yet, Slot does have the likes of Hugo Ekitike to lead the line, who has a healthy eight Premier League strikes already in his back pocket.
Semenyo Bournemouth stats (timeless)
Moreover, dropping a lavish £65m on Semenyo's services - despite his blistering current form on the South Coast - could be deemed a risk, considering he didn't instantly set the world alight at Bournemouth, with just one goal coming his way during his debut campaign.
With a lot of cash already burnt on signings such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, Liverpool might aim to be more strategic with their pick-ups this January, with Guehi coming into the building on a cut-price deal, sticking out as a far better immediate purchase than Semenyo.
Guehi's PL numbers for Palace
Stat
Games played
Minutes played
Goals scored
Assists
Clean sheets
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Guehi has barely put a foot wrong since moving to Palace in 2021, with the FA Cup-winning captain now up to 11 goals and eight assists as an easy-on-the-eye centre-back presence, who wouldn't look out of place lining up next to Virgil Van Dijk at Anfield.
With Liverpool's defensive woes this season very apparent, as seen in Ibrahima Konate being labelled as having a "nightmare" at points this campaign by the Athletic's James Pearce, this could be a signing that instantly solves these ongoing issues, with Guehi up to seven clean sheets for the unfolding Premier League season.
Marc-Guehi-Crystal-Palace
To add context, even Van Dijk has one less clean sheet next to his name this season, despite still being at the heart of the defensive operation on Merseyside, with Guehi labelled as a "world-class" operator for the Eagles by academy coach David Matthews.
Semenyo has rightly received his own showerings of praise, but for £35m or even on a free transfer, as opposed to the City-bound attacker's £65m valuation, Liverpool would be winning themselves an insane bargain that would represent an even better buy than the much-talked-about forward.
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The Reds have been underwhelming this season to put it lightly.