While Liverpool keeps thinking about a late deal for Crystal Palace -defender Marc Guehi, the attitude of Arne Slot relative to other options in the transfer window has emerged
Liverpool will not continue any other central defenders this summer if they cannot sign Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi. The international English international has been on their transfer radar for the most of the transfer window.
The side of Arne Slot has strengthened their forward options, after he has signed Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and still hunting Alexander Isak, while he also adds full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. But former Chelsea defender Guehi remains important for the Reds, because he has left for less than a year at his deal in Palace, which means that he is available under his true market value.
It will also be available for a free transfer next summer if things are outstanding, although Liverpool may not want to wait that long. However, Guehi's contract situation did not prevent the South Londoners from demanding around £ 40 million for the 25-year-old.
If the MerseSiders cannot sign him, they will apparently no longer add central defenders to their team.
According to athletics, Liverpool has no 'plan B' option in place if they do not bring Guehi to Anfield. This is not unusual for the Merseysiders, who tend to not sign anyone else if they don't get their chief.
It was the case when they signed Virgil van Dijk in January 2018, after not taking him away from Southampton last summer. It seems to be a similar situation with Guehi.
This summer, the Liverpool board has identified as the perfect market opportunity to sign the English defender, whereby his contracting situation Liverpool gave the leverage to exchange Palace, who “rejected a bid” north of £ 70 million “from Newcastle last summer, according to Chronicle Live.
With Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni – a recent £ 26 million acquisition from Parma – to choose from, Liverpool will not look for another central defender if they cannot agree for a deal for Guehi.
This is the position of the Reds, despite the Track record of Gomez of Injury and the uncertain future of Konate, whose contract with Anfield ends the following summer. The Frenchman has been interesting for Real Madrid, who is said to plan an offer for him next season when he is a free agent.
Until that time, it is expected that Konate will continue as the central defensive partner of Van Dijk, unless people like Leoni can admit him from his position. Standing on 6ft 5, the 18-year-old, left-wing central defender is supposed to be generally considered as the long-term successor to Van Dijk.
Slot is certainly impressed by him since his arrival in Anfield. The Dutch boss said: “He is a handsome man, like [with] Most Italians. He has now trained with us three times, I think.
“If you look at his transfer costs, you can expect that he is already quite mature for his age, and that is exactly what I saw. He comes in like an 18-year-old who just plays with his new teammates as if he is longer here.
“Impressive; if you look at how long it is, fast, comfortable on the ball. Yes, there is a reason why we paid the transfer costs that we did because we see him as a clear prospect.”