Liverpool are entering the market for a new centre-back after losing Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen.

Quansah has arrived in Leverkusen to undergo his medical on Monday, with his exit leaving the Reds with just three senior centre-halves.

The plan is clearly for Liverpool to replace Quansah, with Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi emerging as a concrete target.

However, reports suggest Liverpool are reluctant to meet Guehi’s asking-price with just one year left on his contract.

BBC reporter hints Liverpool could walk away from £45m deal if one thing isn’t right	Marc Guehi would be perfect signing for Liverpool centre-back vacancy	Crystal Palace set new price for Liverpool and Arsenal to sign Marc Guehi

Part of the appeal of the Palace defender is that he would help alleviate the pressure on Liverpool’s non-homegrown slots.

So, with the Reds balking at Palace’s valuation and keeping one eye on homegrown targets, here are three alternatives they may well be looking at.

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Although his homegrown status is not the only reason Liverpool want Guehi, there is a certain logic in them going for him with that in mind.

However, his price is not the only stumbling block ahead of the move.

There have also been claims that Guehi would want guarantees of first team football if he joins Liverpool.

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With Ibrahima Konate still around, the Reds cannot really offer Guehi that.

As a result, they may be better off looking at a player who is happy to play third or even fourth fiddle at Anfield.

In that respect, Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis could be an option.

Having come through at Manchester City, Harwood-Bellis is very much homegrown, and having been relegated with Southampton will be looking for a way back to the Premier League.

Sky Sports report Porto have had a £19m bid rejected for Harwood-Bellis, but with Saints said to be open to letting the 23-year-old go, a deal could likely be struck for not much more than that.

If Harwood-Bellis would represent a cheaper option in these parameters, then Nathan Collins is perhaps at the other end of the scale.

After another good season with Brentford, Collins has reaffirmed his status as one of the Premier League’s most underrated centre-backs.

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Still only 24, the Republic of Ireland international qualifies as homegrown having joined Stoke City as a 15 year old.

Collins cost Brentford £23m back in 2023, and would likely be in a similar ballpark to Guehi price wise.

However, the former Wolves man is unlikely to demand a starting berth immediately, but could develop into a regular with the Reds.

A slightly left-field shout could be Quansah’s England U21 partner Charlie Cresswell.

Cresswell has blossomed having left Leeds United for French side Toulouse last summer, becoming a regular as the Violets finished mid-table in Ligue 1.

Robust and rugged, the 22-year-old is perhaps not quite the archetypal Liverpool centre-back but he could yet develop into a really good player.

There have been reports that Como are looking at Creswell, and the Preston-born youngster is surely available for a good price.

A lot of this will depend on Liverpool’s long-term plans for Konate.
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