Liverpool look likely to be in the market for a new centre-back this summer, as Jarell Quansah prepares to finalise a move to Bayer Leverkusen.

Even without an exit for Quansah, it had seemed possible that the Reds would need a new stopper.

Liverpool have not signed a central defender since Ibrahima Konate arrived in 2021, and with injury concerns over Joe Gomez and contract worries about Konate, they need a little more back-up.

With Quansah departing for Germany, it is now vital that Arne Slot adds another centre-back to the Liverpool squad.

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Plenty of names have been suggested as being of interest, with up-and-comers such as Ousmane Diomande and Cristhian Mosquera potentially on Liverpool’s list.

But while links to that pair and more may become more concrete, the most noise is currently surrounding Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.

And judging by a review of Guehi once delivered by England colleague Jude Bellingham, it is easy to see why.

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As Liverpool scour the market for a new centre-back this summer, they are unlikely to come across a better option than Guehi.

Despite being only 24 years old, the former Chelsea academy defender already wears the captain’s armband for Palace and has 23 caps for England.

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The biggest of those international appearances came during last summer’s UEFA Euro 2024 final, when Guehi and his England teammates lost 2-1 against Spain.

Although he ended up on the losing team that day, Guehi was one of England’s better performers, putting the cherry on what had been an excellent breakout international campaign.

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Bellingham was certainly impressed, praising Guehi for his performance during the Group Stage as he marshalled Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandr Mitrovic of Serbia.

“He was brilliant.

He led against two, for me, really good centre-forwards at this level in Vlahovic and Mitrovic, two really, really tricky customers and he was unbelievable.”

“It helps a lot when he has [John] Stones beside him, one of the best around.

But I thought he was fantastic.”

Anyone who watched Guehi during England’s run to last summer’s European Championship final will be enthused over the possibility of him joining Liverpool.

The 24-year-old really stood out in England’s back line and earned plaudits for his calm and mature manner.

Liverpool signing Guehi will reportedly depend on the price Crystal Palace will demand to sell their captain this summer.

With one year left to run on his contract, the FA Cup winners are unlikely to be able to get anything close to the £70m they rejected for Guehi in the winter window.

But unless the price is drastically reduced to a fraction of that price, it may be that Liverpool wait before pursuing Guehi on a free transfer in 2026.


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