Liverpool are desperately assessing all their centre-back options ahead of the new season.

The Reds know exactly what they want this summer and so far, they have got every target they have gone in for.

A striker and a centre-back are the final two areas that many believe Liverpool need to successfully defend the Premier League title, with the latter causing many talking points as of late.

Ibrahima Konate’s Liverpool future is uncertain and Jarell Quansah is close to joining Bayer Leverkusen, leaving the Reds desperate to work out the future of their backline.

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The Frenchman, arguably, looks more out than in at this point in time, leaving Arne Slot with a huge problem going forward.

Contingency plans are already in place, however, and there is one defender in particular who Liverpool are very keen on, with a move for him certainly not out of the realms of possibility, especially after his parent club have been urged to sell him.

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Losing a player for free is a big kick in the teeth, especially when the individual is so key to the team, something Liverpool know all too well after Trent Alexander-Arnold departed for Real Madrid.

Once a player enters the final year of their contract, the club then has to weigh up whether to sell them for at least a little bit of money or get the most out of them for one last season.

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Crystal Palace have this current dilemma with their captain Marc Guehi as Liverpool are very interested in capitalising on his situation, but the Eagles’ former chairman Simon Jordan believes that they should sell the Englishman to the Reds this summer.

“When Liverpool come knocking at your door as a top footballer you go ‘Premier League champions?

I’ll have some of that thanks very much,’” Jordan told talkSPORT.

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“Sell him unless you can tie him down, but you aren’t going to be able to tie him down, are you?

“They took the roll of a dice last year, they didn’t take Newcastle’s money, and now they are against the clock.

And then you have to go and buy a centre-back, you might as well sell him.”

Marc Guehi has given no indication that he does not want to join Liverpool, he would just want to be a guaranteed starter before he says yes.

However, this will depend on the future of Konate, with the Reds needing to work out whether to sell him for some cash or to spend big on a new contract – and they will need to decide swiftly.

Guehi is happy to see out his Palace contract, giving Liverpool time, but if the Eagles do decide to sell this summer, the Reds might miss out as they cannot rearrange the squad in time.

Liverpool’s stance is that they want the Frenchman to stay, but if the player shows no indication of wanting that, then Slot will need to be ruthless this summer to ensure his squad is in the best possible shape going forward.

Overall, Guehi to Liverpool really depends on Konate and the Reds cannot really make a move for the Palace captain until Ibou’s future is decided.
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