Liverpool making “calls” to signal “world-class” star

Liverpool are experiencing a troublesome January up to now, with issues on the pitch and off it.

Two attracts towards Leeds and Fulham to start out the month have executed little to salvage Arne Slot‘s soured popularity at Anfield, with the Reds now 14 factors adrift top-of-the-table Arsenal within the Premier League.

There have even been murmurs that Liverpool have a substitute lined up for the waning Dutchman, within the type of Xabi Alonso.

Furthermore, barring a late twist within the story that has been talked about by Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Redknapp, Liverpool additionally appears to be like more likely to lose out on the £65m signature of Antoine Semenyo, because the Ghananian edges ever nearer to pulling on Manchester Metropolis sky blue.

A medical is reportedly set in stone for Semenyo to swap AFC Bournemouth for the Etihad, as Liverpool shifts their focus to different targets…

Liverpool make calls to signal world-class star

Realistically, though the switch window can throw up some dramatic, edge-of-your-seat moments, Liverpool do look to have come up quick on Semenyo’s coveted signature.

That does not imply they will not produce other assertion switch targets in thoughts, nonetheless, with a £100m transfer for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba allegedly on their radar.

Alongside discuss Baleba coming to Anfield, rumours proceed to persist relating to Liverpool making a January swoop for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.

Certainly, this does look to be one more transfer the place Man Metropolis are within the driver’s seat, however switch knowledgeable Fabrizio Romano has said through his YouTube channel that Liverpool have made “calls” this month to try to snap up a late deal for a defender they very practically bought their palms again in the summertime.

Romano said: “The doorways are usually not closed to a January exit for Marc Guehi. Man Metropolis are on it, Man Metropolis are negotiating with Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi, however it’s not one thing executed. It’s not one thing agreed.

“Don’t overlook about Bayern calls. Don’t overlook about Liverpool calls. The state of affairs is shifting round Marc Guehi as a result of Bayern and Liverpool are monitoring this chance for the summer time switch window.”

Guehi is out of contract in the summertime and more likely to transfer on a free switch, though he may transfer this January for a price, considered across the £35m mark in accordance with earlier experiences.

Why Guehi may very well be a greater buy than Semenyo

Liverpool has been troubled by some ineffective attacking performances of late, with former Reds legend Jamie Carragher stating after the Merseyside giants stumbled to a 0-0 draw towards Leeds United that the underwhelming aspect has “actually misplaced one thing by way of pleasure.”

That is the place Semenyo may come to the rescue, with the £65m-rated ahead as much as ten Premier League objectives for the season, now, having bowed out from his very spectacular stick with the Cherries with a last-gasp winner towards Tottenham Hotspur.

That is why Redknapp was so determined for Liverpool to launch a last-minute hijack, with the Sky Sports activities pundit hailing Semenyo as a “match-winner” who may rework the Reds’ disappointing assault.

But, Slot does have the likes of Hugo Ekitike to steer the road, who has a wholesome eight Premier League strikes already in his again pocket.

Furthermore, dropping a lavish £65m on Semenyo’s providers – regardless of his blistering present type on the South Coast – may very well be deemed a threat, contemplating he did not immediately set the world alight at Bournemouth, with only one aim coming his approach throughout his debut marketing campaign.

With lots of money already burnt on signings comparable to Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, Liverpool would possibly goal to be extra strategic with their pick-ups this January, with Guehi coming into the constructing on a cut-price deal, protruding as a much better rapid buy than Semenyo.

Guehi has barely put a foot flawed since shifting to Palace in 2021, with the FA Cup-winning captain now as much as 11 objectives and eight assists as an easy-on-the-eye centre-back presence, who would not look misplaced lining up subsequent to Virgil Van Dijk at Anfield.

With Liverpool’s defensive woes this season very obvious, as seen in Ibrahima Konate being labelled as having a “nightmare” at factors this marketing campaign by the Athletic’s James Pearce, this may very well be a signing that immediately solves these ongoing points, with Guehi as much as seven clear sheets for the unfolding Premier League season.

So as to add context, even Van Dijk has one much less clear sheet subsequent to his title this season, regardless of nonetheless being on the coronary heart of the defensive operation on Merseyside, with Guehi labelled as a “world-class” operator for the Eagles by academy coach David Matthews.

Semenyo has rightly acquired his personal showerings of reward, however for £35m and even on a free switch, versus the Metropolis-bound attacker’s £65m valuation, Liverpool can be profitable themselves an insane cut price that may characterize an excellent higher purchase than the much-talked-about ahead.

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The Reds have been underwhelming this season to place it frivolously.