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Liverpool's pursuit of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi has intensified this summer as the Reds seek to bolster their defensive options. Following the sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen and injuries to Joe Gomez, Liverpool find themselves short in the centre-back department, prompting a priority shift toward signing Guehi. The defender, praised by England's former head coach Gareth Southgate as "exceptional" at Euro 2024, is now seen as a crucial acquisition for Liverpool's squad depth and long-term stability.

Despite Palace's efforts to retain Guehi, the player is in the final year of his contract and reportedly reluctant to extend it, which adds urgency to Liverpool's approach. With an influx of funds estimated at over £65 million from Luis Diaz's impending sale, Liverpool are preparing a substantial offer aimed at convincing the Eagles to part ways with their defensive talisman. Sporting director Richard Hughes is focusing heavily on securing Guehi, understanding the vital role a reliable centre-back plays in sustaining Liverpool's title ambitions, especially after previous campaigns suffered due to defensive shortages.

Moreover, Liverpool’s summer activity has been busy, adding several players such as Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Armin Pesci, Florian Wirtz, and Milos Kerkez, with Hugo Ekitike set to arrive soon. However, they remain open to alternative plans should Real Madrid successfully recruit Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool, which could trigger a succession of defensive transfers involving players like Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa and Oscar Mingueza from Celta Vigo. The preferred scenario is retaining Konate while securing Guehi to strengthen the backline effectively.

This transfer strategy underscores Liverpool’s commitment to addressing their defensive vulnerabilities following the lessons from their 2020/21 title defense, where a shortage of experienced centre-backs contributed to their decline. Securing Guehi is viewed as a key move toward preventing a repeat of that situation and providing manager Arne Slot with a more robust squad foundation for the upcoming season.

PP