Marc Guehi Liverpool transfer stance clear as Crystal Palace left with two options

Marc Guehi Liverpool transfer stance clear as Crystal Palace left with two options

Having made an explosive start to the summer transfer window, Liverpool are now set for a waiting game over Marc Guehi

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi would be interested in signing for Liverpool (Image: Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images) )

Having made an explosive start to this summer's transfer window, Liverpool might now be set for a waiting game over Marc Guehi. The Reds officially rubber stamped Jeremie Frimpong's arrival at the beginning of the month after triggering his £29m release clause at Bayer Leverkusen.

They then turned their attention to thrashing out the finer points of the deal that has made Florian Wirtz a potential British transfer record at £116m.

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And having seen the gifted Germany international sign for an initial £100m on Friday, Liverpool are pressing ahead with the arrangements to make Milos Kerkez the most expensive left-back purchase in Anfield history at £40m. A medical is expected next week for the Hungary international after an agreement was struck on Friday.

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Focus now turns to their centre-back department, with England Under-21 international Jarell Quansah the subject of a deal worth somewhere between £35m and £40m with Leverkusen.

Talks are at an advanced stage and the Warrington-born defender will likely complete his move after the Young Lions' European Championship campaign concludes in Slovakia. Saturday's win over Spain means the holders are now into the semi-finals.

As the ECHO reported on Friday, the priority for the Reds is a young centre-back with a high ceiling once Qunasah departs.

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Having wanted Levi Colwill at Chelsea two years ago on the back on a successful loan period at Brighton & Hove Albion before targeting Leny Yoro and Dean Huijsen, who joined Manchester United and Real Madrid respectively for around £50m each in the last two summers, Liverpool are clearly looking at their defensive ranks through a wide-view lens.

The profile of a potentially elite centre-half remains near the top of the shortlist for the Reds' recruitment department and it will be fascinating to see how that manifests itself this summer.

Crystal Palace captain Guehi is a player who is of genuine interest at Liverpool but it was stressed to the ECHO this week that the Reds' recruitment department, while proactive and aggressive in their pursuits of Frimpong, Wirtz and now Kerkez, would be happy to now bide their time over the England international.

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Turning 25 next month, Guehi is not an obvious fit for the 'young centre-back' profile that is being assessed but the contract status of the former Chelsea defender means the Reds are keeping close tabs on the developments of the situation at Selhurst Park.

There are some concerns that Liverpool will leave themselves short of cover defensively should they fail to replace Quansah but it should be pointed out that the 22-year-old made only one Premier League start before the title was wrapped up in April. That came on the opening weekend at Ipswich Town, when he was substituted at half-time for losing too many duels against the combative Liam Delap.

The chance to add an England international of Guehi's calibre to the squad interests Liverpool. His homegrown status also appeals.

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But after the Eagles turned down four bids from Newcastle United last summer around the £60m mark, the Reds would be reluctant to go anywhere near a similar figure given the contract status.

The ECHO has been informed that Guehi would jump at the opportunity to move to Anfield if the opportunity arose but reports in national media over the weekend said he is relaxed about the situation and is prepared to stay with the FA Cup winners for one final term before leaving as a free agent.

There is little chance of a contract extension in south London, however, leaving the FA Cup holders with two choices: sell now for a lower price, or lose him for nothing in 2026.

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Palace are a club who have not previously felt the benefit of the additional revenue of European football, so the internal question will be how well they can absorb the loss of their club captain for nothing. The alternative is to bring their asking price considerably down this summer and enter into talks with interested parties, like Liverpool.

With Palace closing in on a £40m deal for 21-year-old Ousmane Diomande at Sporting, the Londoners appear to be planning for life without their current skipper, who was instrumental in the club winning its first-ever major trophy last season when they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

The prospect of being forced into a cut-price deal for Guehi could be enough to bring Liverpool to the negotiating table but the Premier League champions will feel they are operating from a position of strength and believe the opportunity of landing the player as a free agent in 12 months, just as he turns 26, will be worth the wait.

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A summer of brinkmanship might now be in the offing where this situation is concerned.

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