Liverpool have been looking for another center back in the summer transfer window as a third choice alongside superstars Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, though they may also need to think about that player as either a long-term Van Dijk replacement or even a short-term Konate replacement.
Because Real Madrid are on the hunt and want to sign another center back before the window closes, with the Liverpool star remaining high on their wishlist, the Reds have even more of an interest in signing a center back this summer in preparation for Konate’s departure.
Konate could leave to Real Madrid as a free agent next summer just one year after Liverpool already lost world-class right back Trent Alexander-Arnold to the Merengues for free.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are going hard after Marc Guehi, who is a star for Crystal Palace and has just one year left on his contract. Palace are ready to sell Guehi before the window closes to avoid losing him for free, and Liverpool have been on the cusp of signing him.
Liverpool fans get hit with Marc Guehi transfer blow
Fabrizio Romano even said that Liverpool had agreed to personal terms with Guehi on a deal and were closing in on a bargain 35 million pound transfer for the 25-year-old England international, representing a 50 percent discount off his asking price initially.
However, perhaps Fab jumped the gun, because another transfer insider has a conflicting report. According to Alex Crook of Talk Sport, Guehi is happy to finish up his contract with Crystal Palace and expire before heading out as a free agent.
Per Crook, Guehi has not actually agreed to personal terms with Liverpool, and the report further goes on to state that Liverpool have only been engaging in “exploratory” talks for the star center back.
Either way you spin it, Liverpool could use Guehi for the upcoming season in their Premier League title defense and attempt to win a second Champions League title of the Mohamed Salah era since their last one in 2018/19.
Guehi could be a fantastic buy as a free agent to replace Konate, and it seems like the move could happen next year. But with Palace clearly hoping to sell Guehi for some profit, it may make more sense for Liverpool to keep driving hard to sign what would be a dream third-choice center back this summer.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2011. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has contributed to sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. Joe’s work has appeared in ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling, respectively.