Liverpool’s summer spending spree appears set to continue as they edge closer to signing Marc Guehi.
The Crystal Palace defender has attracted interest from several top clubs after it emerged he would not be extending his contract at Selhurst Park, which only has a year remaining.
However, Liverpool are now in pole position and discussions between all parties are expected to take place within the next 24 hours.
This would mark another impressive deal for Liverpool, who have already splashed out nearly £200 million on high-quality additions following their title win.
The Premier League champions have secured Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a record £116m, Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth for £40m, and Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen for £30m.
This significant investment by Liverpool and their owners, Fenway Sports Group, sends a clear message of intent. It would be quite a coup to beat rivals such as Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur to Guehi ‘s signature.
There are still obstacles to overcome. Palace value their England centre-half at around £70m but understand that potential buyers are unlikely to meet this valuation given Guehi’s contract situation, reports the Mirror.
However, they will still demand a fee exceeding £40m, especially considering Chelsea included a 20 percent sell-on clause when they sold Guehi to Palace for £18m in 2021.
With numerous options available to Guehi, Liverpool may need to assure him of a regular starting position.
Jarell Quansah is set to depart for Bayer Leverkusen after finding game-time limited under Arne Slot, who favours Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as his primary central defensive duo.
Konate’s contract also expires in a year, casting doubt over the likelihood of him signing a new deal.
However, Guehi would be viewed as an excellent long-term acquisition for Liverpool, as he is set to turn 25 in just a few weeks.
He has earned 23 caps for England and is a sure bet to be included in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for next summer’s World Cup.
In addition to the three marquee signings, Liverpool have also brought in goalkeepers Armin Pesci and Freddie Woodman. The deal struck last summer for Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili will see the Georgian shot-stopper join Slot’s squad when they return to training on July 8.
If Liverpool secure a deal for Guehi, it is likely to conclude their summer transfer activity, despite ongoing links with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.
Meanwhile, Palace are awaiting UEFA’s decision on their eligibility for next season’s Europa League and are also bracing for bids for Eberechi Eze, who could become the subject of a transfer tug-of-war between Arsenal and Spurs.
