The game-changing £60m signing who can revolutionise Liverpool's defence if they act fast
The Reds continue to be linked with a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
Look, one way or another, somebody is getting Marc Guehi. The Crystal Palace defender is perpetually linked with an exit from Selhurst Park, and his eventual departure will represent a sad day for hawkers of idle transfer speculation, like yours truly. Perhaps I shall put together some kind of In Memoriam tribute package - a black and white photo montage, 'I Will Remember You' by Sarah McLachlan playing in the background.
At this stage, it would probably be quicker and easier to name the Premier League clubs that Guehi has not been mentioned in relation to. The likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and former club Chelsea are all said to be admirers, as are Liverpool. And while there are arguments to be outlined in favour of the England international opting for any one of those traditional heavyweights, the Reds do make for a compelling proposition.
Many expected this season to be one of transition at Anfield. After a disappointing showing last term, and a summer transfer window in which Jurgen Klopp refitted his entire midfield, there was a feeling that Liverpool could take a while to settle into their rejuvenated guise. Instead, they have erupted into life, perching atop the Premier League (in which they would be unbeaten were it not for a VAR-controversy-laced defeat at the hands of Spurs in September) and securing a spot in the Carabao Cup final on Wednesday evening.
Suddenly, the Reds are back in the hunt, and after going a long way towards refurbishing their engine room, Klopp can finally start to shift attention towards other areas of his squad. And that is where Guehi could come in.
As things stand, Liverpool are relatively well-stocked at the heart of defence, but their options do feel somewhat impermanent. Virgil van Dijk, as imperious as he is, will be 33 this summer, while Joel Matip, only a month or so younger, is currently sidelined with the kind of vicious ACL injury that can severely derail careers. Joe Gomez, when he isn't deputising at left-back, is a fine footballer, but has never truly felt like the proper heir apparent to Van Dijk, and Ibrahima Konate, perhaps the best long-term bet that the Reds boast, alongside Jarell Quansah. Nat Phillips has seemingly emigrated to the nether-realm.
As such, it would be smart of Liverpool to push for a high-profile central defensive recruit in the coming months. To that end, Guehi certainly fits the bill. The 23-year-old is an England international in possession of seemingly boundless potential, and who continues to prove his worth as a Premier League calibre talent week after week.
In fact, we have reached a point at which his exit from Palace firmly feels like an inevitability, and it is now only a matter of sifting through the finer details - when he will leave, where he will end up, how much he will cost. Reports suggest the Eagles are demanding £60 million, but that figure could easily creep up if a bidding war ensues.
And perhaps that is the biggest obstacle Liverpool face in their pursuit of Guehi. There is no doubting he is good enough, no questioning that in today's market £60 million represents a decent valuation for a player of his ilk. But there are other vultures circling, and if the Reds are to get their man, they will need to act swiftly and decisively.