Guehi could yet leave in Januaryplaceholder image
Guehi could yet leave in January | Getty Images
Liverpool might be in for a quiet January, where missing out on a top target could prove to be costly.
Liverpool haven't quite written off this season, however, there has been little to suggest that Richard Hughes has any intentions of going on a winter spending spree.
David Ornstein has claimed it could be a quiet window for the Reds despite there being an obvious need for reinforcements in a couple of key positions. The frustration of seeing Antoine Semenyo go to Man City has only been made worse by Marc Guehi following him too. Two proven Premier League players, both pre-peak and capable of being in the starting XI for the foreseeable future.
Who Liverpool could turn to if they miss out on Marc Guehi
The one position that Liverpool didn’t strengthen, but clearly tried to was at centre-half. The late collapse of the deal to sign Guehi is a testament to that. With the England international’s contract ticking down, interest in his services increased. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and every top club in the Premier League was after him, this also meant that the Crystal Palace stopper was able to name his price in terms of a signing on fee and salary.
The Eagles were reported to want a similar fee to the £35m that Liverpool agreed in the summer and he is still be worth every penny of this. On Friday, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that City had made a ‘big approach’, which has since became concrete.
Radar comparison of Malick Thiaw (blue) of Newcastle United and Ibrahima Konate (red) of Liverpool using 2025/26 statistics.placeholder image
Radar comparison of Malick Thiaw (blue) of Newcastle United and Ibrahima Konate (red) of Liverpool using 2025/26 statistics. | Data MB
It is the sort of transfer fee that Newcastle United paid for Malick Thiaw with the Germany international impressing since establishing himself under Eddie Howe. In terms of aerial duels, only Virgil van Dijk is more dominant in the air and in terms of ground duels, only a handful of Premier League defenders are as physical and successful at dealing with opposition strikers.
Using Data MB’s comparison model, Thiaw also bares a close resemblance to contract rebel Ibrahima Konate, the player who Liverpool need to release. He’s the perfect profile to partner Van Dijk, replace Konate and, if Guehi chooses elsewhere, he is a common sense replacement.
What they’ve said about Thiaw this season
Thiaw has earned rave reviews all season and scoring a double against Everton at St James’ Park has been particular highlight. Teammate Nick Woltemade being one of his biggest fans: “Unbelievable player,” said Woltemade. “We’re always making jokes about how he can’t head but today he scores two. Yesterday, he wanted to train headers but the rain was so bad that we couldn’t train. But I don’t think he needs it anymore!”
“You never quite know how long it will take a player to feel comfortable and confident within the team, with their peers, and in the way we play,” said Howe post-match after the Everton game. “I think Malick had a little period where Fabian (Schaer) and Dan (Burns) had done really, really well, but he got an opportunity and never looked back from that moment.
“Today I thought he was outstanding: two great goals, two huge moments for us. But he’s been really consistent, I think that’s the biggest compliment I can give him. He’s physically been able to handle the games. He’s looked really strong — another top performance.”
Consistent – a quality that Konate has struggled with for some time.
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