Liverpool are finally set to land their top defensive target of the summer, with multiple reports claiming the club is now closing in on a deal to sign Crystal Palace and England international centre-back, Marc Guéhi.
The major breakthrough in negotiations has reportedly come from the player’s side. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Guéhi has now agreed personal terms with the Reds, a crucial step towards finalizing the move to Anfield.
Furthermore, following a period where talks had stalled over the fee, the two clubs are now said to be discussing a significantly reduced price. The Times reports that the deal is expected to be worth an initial £30 million, with a further £5 million in performance-related add-ons.
This total £35 million package is being seen as a bargain for a proven, prime-age England international. The price has been forced down by the fact that Guéhi is in the final year of his contract and Crystal Palace’s chairman recently admitted the club would have to sell him if he continued to refuse a new deal.
The signing addresses a key area of need for Liverpool. After selling Jarell Quansah earlier in the summer, the club was left with little senior cover behind their formidable first-choice pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté. Guéhi will provide top-class competition and much-needed depth.
Liverpool’s defensive recruitment drive may not stop there. The club is also reportedly monitoring Parma’s 18-year-old Italian sensation Giovanni Leoni, who The Times claims the Reds rate as “the best of the young centre backs in Europe.”
After a summer of big spending on their attack, Liverpool are now decisively reinforcing their backline. Securing a player of Marc Guéhi’s quality for a bargain fee is a huge coup for the Premier League champions.