Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards better be prepared for the barrage of criticism set to come their way from disgruntled Liverpool supporters.
The Reds’ recruitment dream team are all set to let another top January target slip away as Marc Guehi moves to Manchester City.
Liverpool have already been beaten to Antoine Semenyo by City this month, and after claims that Pep Guardiola’s team are pushing ahead for Guehi as well, Reds fans are going to be fuming, and with good reason.
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CHANGE MY MIND: Richard Hughes should resign if Liverpool let Man City sign Guehi and Semenyo
Marc Guehi pictured at the Emirates Stadium ahead of Crystal Palace's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal
Credit: Molly Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
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However, despite his good start at City, Semenyo will be no great loss to Liverpool as they look towards the forward’s market in 2026. There are better players out there.
The Reds are also guaranteed to make at least one centre-back signing during the summer as well, and chances are they will be a whole lot better than the unconvincing Guehi.
Too many question marks over Marc Guehi
Supporters do have a right to be angry with Hughes and Edwards over the failure to land Guehi. They had him all but sealed on deadline day and to let him walk to City barely four months later is a real embarrassment.
Nevertheless, the anger should be rooted more in the fact that Liverpool desperately need a centre-back and appear ready to ignore that rather than any specific disappointment over Guehi himself.
Marc Guehi pictured in action during Crystal Palace's FA Cup third round match against Macclesfield Town
Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images
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While he has been a good Premier League performer for Palace and an impressive figure on international duty for England, it still remains to be seen whether Guehi is capable of stepping up to a truly top team.
At Palace he plays in a back three with greater protection. That would not be the case at Liverpool, and as he stands at a distinctly short 5 feet 11 inches, there would be question marks over his ability to deal with the aerial bombardment Liverpool usually find themselves facing.
The fact also remains that the Reds seem happy enough to let City have a free run at Guehi in January. If they were completely sold on him they would surely fight harder to redirect his transfer.
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Xabi Alonso pictured during Real Madrid's La Liga match against Real Betis at the Bernabeu (Credit: Getty Images/Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto
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Liverpool set to make an even better signing than Guehi
Part of the appeal of Guehi to Liverpool was that he would be one more addition to their homegrown quota. The Reds currently have too many non-homegrown players and it is important to fill the squad with a few more quality options in that regard.
However, where a player is from should never be one of the deciding factors in a transfer happening. If it is, it may suggest that a deal is being done for the wrong reasons.
There is no doubt that Guehi could come in and help Liverpool in their current situation, and from that perspective the signing would make sense. But whether he is truly good enough in the long-term? Liverpool clearly have at least some reservations.
Whatever happens with Guehi, the Reds will be assessing their options in bulking up their defence in 2026, and with virtually a full year in which to do that, you would back them to get the decision right.
Although it is unclear who exactly their new arrival could be, they are likely to be a replacement for Ibrahima Konate who is even more ready to step straight into the role. Fear not, Liverpool fans, we will end up in a better position once this mess has been concluded.
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