Liverpool could target three centre-backs if they're beaten to Guehi including 'aggressive' PL stopper - opinion
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Liverpool are not guaranteed to sign Marc Guehi after missing out on a deadline day deal for the Crystal Palace captain.
The Reds had identified Guehi as their top choice to strengthen the defence and were on the verge of signing him before Palace pulled the plug.
Reports over the weekend suggest that Liverpool will wait until next summer to buy Guehi, ignoring the chance to get him to Anfield in January.
While this could pay off and Liverpool sign the England international on a free transfer, it could also leave the door open for other clubs to hijack the Reds.
This does not seem like an outside chance, either.
Available for nothing, or for a small fee in January, Guehi will surely be alerting interest from clubs across Europe.
Liverpool reportedly think Guehi has settled on a move to Merseyside, but in case that proves to be false hope, there are three clear alternatives Arne Slot could target.
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Before the links to Guehi truly firmed up, there were rumblings that Liverpool were interested in Nottingham Forest’s Murillo.
Murillo has developed into an excellent centre-back at the City Ground, and it feels like a matter of time before he makes the jump to a top club.
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Unlike Guehi, the Brazilian will cost a huge amount to get out of Forest, and this may put Liverpool off.
But Murillo is an ‘aggressive’ defender who has Premier League and international experience and is on a trajectory to the top of the game.
He would be a stunning alternative to Guehi.
Another Premier League defender who Liverpool are rumoured to be keeping an eye on is Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.
Van Hecke is entering the final two years of his contract on the south coast and there have been reports that the Dutchman may not sign a new deal.
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If that is the case, Brighton may decide the time is right to cash in next summer.
Liverpool have been linked with Van Hecke, who, at 25, looks ready to take the next step in his career.
Brighton are notoriously good sellers and the Netherlands international would not be a cheap option, but he has plenty of top division experience and has partnered Virgil van Dijk at national team level.
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A third option could come from outside of the Premier League in the shape of Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini.
Comfortably the youngest on this list aged just 21, Scalvini is one of the biggest defensive prospects in Europe.
Injuries have held the Italian back to a degree, but the left-footer had already established himself with the 2024 Europa League winners as a teenager.
Richard Hughes has shown a willingness to use his contacts within the Italian game while pulling the strings at Liverpool, snaring Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Leoni in consecutive summers.
It would not be a huge surprise if Scalvini made that a hat-trick in 2026, and went on to form an all Italian partnership with Leoni in the years to come.