Crystal Palace Captain Marc Guehi lifted silverware for the second time in four months on Sunday, because the Eagles added the Community Shield to their FA Cup success.
But still lift the community shield after Palace's penalty shoot-out triumph over Liverpool could be one of his last acts in the club's shirt, with the defender the target of their beaten opponents.
Daily Mail Sport reported on Tuesday that the Premier League champions had made direct contact with Palace via Guehi.
The Reds also focus on the 18-year-old Parma defender Giovanni Leoni, with the club that likes to add at least one center back to this window.
Daily Mail Sport reported in June how Guehi was interesting, but the clubs were too far apart in their ratings.
Palace had wanted £ 45 million for the English international, but with a year to his contract, a deal could possibly be closed for £ 35 million.
Guehi would probably prove a smart addition by offering extra competition and a possible follow -up plan for Van Dijk, with the Liverpool Captain Now 34.
At the age of 25, Guehi would turn out to be a long-term solution for the Reds, with the centerback also added leadership that offered the Eagles last season.
With Liverpool who wants to challenge four fronts this season, availability will be an important consideration.
Guehi started 44 games for Crystal Palace last season, including the leading of the Eagles in all their tires on Route to Fa Cup Glory.
The Center Back was excluded from four Premier League matches last season and missed the last two games with an eye injury that forced him in the FA Cup final. He was also suspended twice, with one as a result of collecting yellow cards and the other after a late shipping against Brighton in April.
His record is favorable compared to Liverpool's current backup option Joe Gomez, in which the defender missed months of last season with a hamstring injury. Gomez has already sustained a small Achilles injury, so he missed a lot of Liverpool's preseason.
Statistics compiled by Sofascore can also shed light on the defensive skills of Guehi.
The middle back on average 4.45 clearance and 0.86 intercepts per game last season. The figures are lower than the 4.61 and 1.37 reached by Van Dijk, but higher than the figures from Ibrahima Konate of 3.98 and 0.64 respectively.
Guehi made more tackles last season than both from Liverpool's First Choice Center Backs, on average 1.70 per match, while Van Dijk and Konate were forced to make 0.94 and 1.07 respectively. His percentage of duels won was lower than the Liverpool duo at 59.7, down on their 67.8 and 65.2.
His figures are likely to be influenced by Crystal Palace, which is forced to defend more than the champions last season, which leads to an increased number of tackles and duels for Guehi to win.
However, the Eagles admitted only 10 league goals (51) last season than Liverpool, despite the end of the 12th, with Guehi in the heart of their backline.
Guehi would probably spend more time in possession if he moved to Anfield and he demonstrated his assets on the ball in Palace.
Last season, Guehi has a transient accuracy of 84.7 percent with the defender making 1,978 passes during the Premier League season.
Van Dijk and Konate made 3,500 and 2,122 respectively, with an accuracy of 91.7 and 90.5 percent.
The style of Guehi is more like Van Dijk, with the English international tried 149 long steps with 45.6 percent that the goal reaches. Van Dijk struck 214 with an accuracy of 56.2 percent.
Konate seems more conservative with only 67 long steps tried, with a lower accuracy of 43.8.
The defenders each contributed effectively to the attack last season, with Guehi scored three goals and offered two assists. Van Dijk's target contributions are higher with six – five goals and one assist – while Konate was involved in four – two goals and two assists.
While Guehi is in the shadow of Van Dijk compared to their statistics, it is promising that the defender can still make a leap if he makes the switch to Anfield and possibly comes to the fore as the Dutchman's successor at the back.
Every deal for Guehi is said to be separated from a movement for Parma's Leoni, with the 18-year-old reflection of Liverpool's desire to recruit a young defender for the long term.
Liverpool has extensively viewed the Italian international under the age of 19 and are impressed by his 17 performances in the Serie A.
The teenager also received the seal of approval from the great AC Milan -Baas Arrigo Sacchi, who, according to him, could become the future of the Italian national team.
“I am convinced that he will be the Lynchpin of the Azzurri defense for a long time,” wrote Sacchi in Gazzetta Dello Sport.
'Some people, with regard to a possible transfer to Liverpool, object that this young man has only made 17 Serie A appearances so far. Are those few not? No, I answer. Not few, because on those occasions Leoni has demonstrated the qualities needed to go far.
'If someone is good, if someone has his head in the right place, it is immediately clear.
'A person can have 200 Serie A competitions under his belts and still do not have the qualities that Leoni has shown as an adult in his first season. Talent has no age. '
Leoni is expected to restore Liverpool around £ 35 million, the same price that the Reds would probably have to pay for Guehi.
The deals would continue with large editions of the Reds, with their additions in attack and striving for Alexander Isak who has attracted the most attention.
If they seal the signing sessions of Guehi and Leoni, the side of Arne Slot could add the defensive foundations for several years.