Liverpool favourites to signal £80m star this summer time

How will the 2024/25 marketing campaign finish for Liverpool?

Will the exultant gamers be perched atop an enormous pink bus, celebrating three shiny trophies so as to add to Anfield’s cupboard as they wend their approach by way of Merseyside’s packed streets?

No matter occurs, you’d suppose Arne Slot‘s Redmen have finished sufficient to raise no less than one, for Liverpool are 15 factors forward of Arsenal with simply two months of the Premier League marketing campaign nonetheless to go. To slide from this level, properly, it could be unprecedented, and unendurable apart from.

On the opposite fronts, a lot will probably be clearer this time subsequent week, with Liverpool’s looming destiny towards Paris Saint-Germain determined and Sunday’s Carabao Cup remaining wrapped up too.

Throughout final week’s first-leg victory over PSG in Paris, Alisson took all of the plaudits and rightly so. However reward for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, who stood steely and cussed within the defensive third as they restricted the areas their opponents may fireplace from.

It is a formidable partnership, however FSG need to signal a brand new centre-back all the identical. Let’s dig into precisely why that’s.

Why Liverpool need a centre-back

Liverpool are anticipating an enormous summer time. Slot has solely welcomed Federico Chiesa to the fold up to now, with a deal additionally agreed for Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in 2024; he arrives this summer time.

In line with The Athletic, the membership need to land a brand new left-back and a high-class central defender, ostensibly as Van Dijk’s long-term successor.

Van Dijk – as with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold – has been one in all Europe’s standout gamers this season. He is Liverpool’s all-inspiring chief and one of many most interesting defenders of his era.

You possibly can perceive why tying him all the way down to the ultimate few years of his prime is seen externally as a necessity, however Liverpool want to arrange for his departure all the identical.

Liverpool’s captain turns 34 this summer time, and whereas he has the technical high quality, intelligence and expertise to maintain acting at his apex for some time longer, FSG can’t promote themselves quick – which is strictly why they need to make investments this yr whereas extending the Netherlands star’s keep too.

In the meantime, Konate is approaching the ultimate yr of his £70k-per-week deal, and whereas he is been engaged in negotiations concerning a renewal, these discussions have turn into protracted, with reported curiosity from PSG and Actual Madrid heightening the damaging noise.

So then, who has sporting director Richard Hughes received in thoughts?

Liverpool main race for PL star

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool are mentioned to be main the race for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who’s approaching the ultimate yr of his deal. London’s most outstanding golf equipment, together with Tottenham Hotspur, are additionally eager on signing him.

Final summer time, Newcastle United noticed a collection of bids rejected for the Three Lions star – the final of which exceeded £65m – and Palace can be seeking to financial institution some £80m for his providers this yr.

It is onerous to think about suitors corresponding to Liverpool would entertain such an exorbitant notion, and whereas Steve Parish could also be attempting to tug the strings forward of an inevitable summer time saga, FSG will possible handle to engineer a deal value much less – in the event that they get there first, after all.

What Guehi would carry to Liverpool

There is a motive Guehi, 24, is coveted by so many outfits looking for the very best station within the Premier League, and blended in with Liverpool’s preexisting defensive choices, he may turn into an actual famous person.

Liverpool have finished their homework. Towards the tip of final yr’s summer time switch window, discussions have been held regarding Guehi.

One of many myriad Cobham youth stars discovered throughout Europe, Guehi left Chelsea for Selhurst Park in a deal value £18m three years in the past, since amassing 145 appearances throughout all competitions, scoring eight targets.

He is developed properly, constructing a powerful defensive base whereas fostering spectacular ball-playing expertise to bespeak his suitability on the highest degree, for a membership corresponding to Liverpool.

This season, Palace have didn’t kick on beneath Glasner’s wing, albeit bettering over the previous few months. Guehi has been instrumental.

Certainly, the unflappable centre-half has been hailed by correspondent Bobby Manzi as a “high skilled and an exceptional expertise.”

As you will notice from the information beneath, Guehi has been a pillar of power over the previous a number of top-flight seasons, regardless of accidents limiting his availability beneath Glasner, within the thick of Roy Hodgson’s downfall, and certainly the membership’s collective struggles to match the heights final yr.

Enhancements are evident. In truth, Guehi’s efficiency in goal-involved sequences and his progressiveness – FBref document he ranks among the many high 20% of Premier League centre-backs this yr for profitable take-ons per 90 – are traits shared with Konate, who the data-driven web site listing as one in all his most comparable gamers.

A profitable take-on is recorded when a participant beats their opponent by straight carrying the ball previous them whereas retaining possession.

This is able to be excellent for a Reds staff looking for a long-term successor to Van Dijk’s throne however one whose athleticism and power may additionally match Liverpool’s different thriving backliner. A hybrid, of kinds.

Guehi has been described as “a type of versatile CBs who can play each side equally as comfortably” by analyst Ben Mattinson, one thing Van Dijk excels in.

Touchdown a participant with qualities already working completely in Slot’s Liverpool venture makes it a no brainer. If a extra inexpensive determine might be agreed upon, Liverpool merely need to signal this “absolute tank” of a defender – as he has been referred to as by former England U21 teammate Josef Bursik.

It may cement the rearguard for a few years to return, offering Konate with a associate he can get on the identical wavelength as, smoothing the transition away from the Van Dijk period.