Liverpool still have work to do in the transfer market as the summer enters its final three weeks.
The Reds have done plenty so far, and have spent huge amounts of money, but they are far from finished.
The Alexander Isak to Liverpool saga still has a little way to run, as Arne Slot continues to hold out hope of securing his top target at number nine.
But while signing Isak would be an important step for Liverpool, it is arguably even more vital that Slot brings in another centre-back.
The Liverpool squad is currently down to two fit, senior central defenders. Joe Gomez will be back ‘very soon‘, but that is nowhere near enough.
Throughout the summer, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool. And as he gears up to face the Reds in the Community Shield on Sunday, a new update on his potential Anfield arrival has dropped.
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace in action during a Premier League match against Nottingham Forest.
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Chelsea unlikely to rival Liverpool for Marc Guehi
Guehi, Liverpool and Crystal Palace appear to be engaged in a giant game of chicken this summer.
The England international has one year left on his contract, and is seemingly happy to see it out and leave on a free transfer.
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Palace, meanwhile, would reportedly rather sell Guehi this summer than lose him for nothing. And then there’s Liverpool, who are unwilling to meet the current asking price for Guehi, and are waiting until the final throes of the window to see if Palace reduce it.
A new avenue potentially opened up for the south Londoners and Guehi over the weekend, with Chelsea losing Levi Colwill to an ACL injury. A former youth player with the Blues, there had been some suggestion they may turn to Guehi.
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However, according to The Telegraph, that is not likely to happen. They claim Chelsea are ‘prioritising other transfer targets’ following Colwill’s injury.
That reportedly leaves Liverpool in ‘pole position’ to sign Guehi, but Palace’s steep valuation is said to be ‘complicating’ the matter.
Liverpool could sign Giovanni Leoni instead of Guehi
Over recent days, a new transfer target has really started to emerge for Liverpool at centre-back: Giovanni Leoni.
Aged just 18 and having played barely 30 senior matches in his career, Leoni would be a completely different signing to Guehi.
But according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool continue to grow stronger in their interest in the youngster.
“Don’t forget the centre-back, Liverpool want to add a quality centre-back with the chance to develop, and Giovanni Leoni from Parma remains one of the options they have considered,” Romano told his YouTube channel on Saturday evening.
“At the moment I can guarantee there is no bid, nothing advanced, Parma still hope to keep the player for one more season and maybe sell him in 2026. But the interest from Liverpool in this boy has been growing in recent days.”