Liverpool supporters are growing in frustration at their club’s transfer policy after seeing the Reds refuse to match Manchester City’s offer to sign Marc Guehi.
Guehi was extremely close to joining Liverpool last summer, and fans had hoped there would be some proactivity in getting him through the door in January.
But despite Crystal Palace accepting a cut-price offer of £20m for their captain, Liverpool have sat on their hands and allowed him to join City instead.
mail iconJoin our newsletter for news & smart analysis.
Will Xabi Alonso be Liverpool manager by the start of the 2026/27 season?
If no, where will he be instead?
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
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Ordinarily, plenty would have no problem with this. Guehi is nothing special in centre-back terms and there are question marks over whether he could adapt to a back four at Liverpool. However, Arne Slot is desperately short at the back this season and it is clear that new arrivals are needed.
With Liverpool likely to wait until the summer, as many as three centre-backs may have to be signed. Ibrahima Konate is set to leave, meaning one of these must be a new partner for Virgil van Dijk. Guehi could potentially have been that, but he would not be a patch on Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.
Liverpool must go big on Alessandro Bastoni
Having declined to enter the January bidding for Guehi, the feeling is that Liverpool must have something else up their sleeve. They badly need defensive signings and it is impossible that they will not arrive in the summer.
Konate going means one of these has to be a player good enough to slot into the Reds’ back line. That does not leave many options.
Alessandro Bastoni warms up ahead of Inter Milan's Serie A match against Torino
Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
READ MORE: Most likely Andy Robertson scenario predicted as Liverpool vice-captain nears end of contract
Bastoni is certainly one of those, however. Named by Giorgio Chiellini as ‘one of the strongest central defenders in the world‘ in 2023, the Italian has grown even further in stature since then.
Reports have suggested that Bastoni is open to a Premier League move this summer and there will be a spot ready and waiting for him at Liverpool.
Since his appointment in 2024, Richard Hughes has shopped in the Italian market twice for Liverpool. Having grown up in the country, the Reds’ sporting director has good contacts in the country, which could give them the edge over their Premier League rivals.
Who should be Liverpool’s top centre-back target after missing out on Marc Guehi?
Micky van de Ven pictured during Tottenham Hotspurs' Premier League match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (Credit: Getty Images/Sebastian Frej).
Alessandro Bastoni warms up ahead of the Serie A match between Inter Milan and Torino at San Siro Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Marco Luzzani).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Sebastian Frej/Marco Luzzani
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Clearly, Bastoni would cost far more than City have been able to poach Guehi for, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Liverpool need to go big here and avoid accusations that they are patching a hugely important area of the team with the cheapest option available.
Bastoni arrival would please angry fans
Although Bastoni would not be a guaranteed success at Liverpool, a move to sign him would be the statement of intent fans want to see.
Over the summer the Reds went out and bought the best available attacking midfielder and striker, and although things have not worked perfectly, they should do the same when it comes to adding a centre-back.
Turning 27 in April, Bastoni would be a signing for the here and now who could also lead Liverpool beyond Van Dijk’s time at the club. There is nobody who would placate angry fans more.
More used to playing in a back three than a back four, there would be a learning curve for Bastoni as he adapts to the demands of the Premier League, but a player of his talents should be able to handle that without any real problem.
For those fans unconvinced by Guehi, this is a potentially exciting time when a top centre-back can finally arrive at Liverpool and make a starting spot his own. Bastoni has to be the one, anyone else is second best.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox