Liverpool only identified Marc Guehi as a target just over a week ago but the deal looks to be progressing quickly.

It is no secret that the Reds desperately want a centre-back this summer, with this now even more of a priority given the uncertainty of some of their stars’ futures.

Ibrahima Konate looks set to leave on a free transfer, while Joe Gomez is also linked with a move away as usual, meaning Virgil van Dijk is the one player guaranteed to stay.

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This is why they have swiftly turned their attention to Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, with the Englishman potentially available at a cut-price due to having one year remaining on his contract.

The 24-year-old wanted guaranteed game time and with the way the deal is developing, it suggests he has been guaranteed just that, with his parent club now closing in on his alternatives.

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Whoever eventually replaces Guehi, whether that be this summer or next, certainly has big boots to fill, but the fact Palace are already lining up a replacement is good news for Liverpool.

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the south London club are ‘one step away’ from signing Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP, with this the front page of their newspaper.

Their report states that the two clubs are ‘close to reaching an agreement’, which will be around the €55m (£47.2m) mark, with the 21-year-old set to be Sporting’s first sale of the summer.

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Diomande is said to be ‘excited’ about Palace’s project and the prospect of playing in the Premier League, with the player very keen to make the move happen.

The report concludes by saying that his wages are not a problem and the small details, like a sell-on clause, are just being ironed out before it is confirmed.

This certainly suggests that Palace are preparing for the worst and fear that they may lose Guehi for free next summer, with their intention now perhaps turning to at least selling him for a little bit of money this month instead.

Different does not necessarily mean bad, and Guehi is the prime example of this as he would be a different type of central defender to the ones Liverpool usually go for.

Over recent years, the Reds have primarily targeted a centre-back between the ages of 18-22, hoping that they can learn from the likes of van Dijk and be ready to step up when he eventually departs.

However, Guehi is a ‘ready to go’ type of player, hence the reason he wants guaranteed minutes, and he is two years older than their normal profile.

This should not be a problem and if Liverpool fail to get Guehi they will revert back to a player slightly younger, one that will get a few minutes here and there.

But the fact Arne Slot could be about to get a ready-made defender to use at his disposal, it suggests Liverpool are very confident in his ability, with Palace’s recent transfer activity certainly suggesting plans are going in the right direction.