Liverpool want a centre-back this summer and they are certainly not short of options.

The Reds clearly know what they want this summer and they appear willing to do everything in their power to go and get it too.

Owners FSG are prepared to back Arne Slot and give him everything he needs to be successful again next season, with the pressure on the Dutchman now ramped up.

A central defender is a specific area they have targeted this summer and Marc Guehi is at the top of Liverpool’s list, with the Englishman having just one year remaining on his current deal at Crystal Palace.

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A move looks likely but a contingency plan is still needed just in case, and all the signs suggest Slot and Liverpool already have one in place.

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The Reds have wanted a centre-back for quite some time but they have failed in their attempts to get one in recent years.

Now, they need one more than ever as Ibrahima Konate looks set to leave at the end of the season as a free agent, making Guehi the perfect fit.

However, the Englishman does not follow Liverpool’s typical centre-back target profile as he is slightly too old despite being just 24, with Ben Jacobs telling talkSPORT that the Reds will revert back to their usual profile of target if they fail in their pursuit of Guehi.

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“It’s a key few days or even weeks for Marc Guehi to Liverpool for them to see if it’s genuine market opportunity.

If he is, they are expected to enter that race, if not, they will move back to that 18-22-year-old type of profile,” Jacobs said.

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“If you think about Liverpool historically, they were always in that strategy for a central defender.

They tried for Leny Yoro, he wanted minutes, again Liverpool couldn’t give them, Manchester United could.  They tried for Levi Colwill, Chelsea considered Colwill untouchable at the time.

“But those two are examples of 18-22-year-old young defenders, and in the case of Colwill, a centre-back and left-back, so there is a clear pattern to Liverpool’s recruitment.”

Versatility is a key trait for Slot’s side and moving for a defender who can play two positions makes a lot of sense, highlighting again how Guehi is very much going against Liverpool’s grain.

If the Reds want someone who can play both centre-back and left-back, then they should look no further than Ajax’s Jorrel Hato.

Not only would he fit in due to his Dutch connections, but his versatility is perfect for Slot’s side, as well as fitting the age profile at just 19 years old.

Liverpool have been linked with Hato all summer but face stiff competition from the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, meaning that a deal would not come cheaply.

However, spending a little extra on a player five years Guehi’s junior might prove beneficial, although only time will tell as he certainly seems to only be a back-up option at this moment in time.
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