David Ornstein: Liverpool believe they’ve signed ELITE talent | OneFootball

Liverpool believe they've got their hands on a truly elite talent. That's according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.

David Ornstein has given an update on Liverpool's Marc Guehi pursuit in the Athletic. The Reds remain engaged in the transfer, hoping to sign Crystal Palace's captain before the transfer window closes.

But it's a complicated one. Palace do want to sell - they can't afford to lose a valuable player for nothing at the end of the season.

Shop the LFC Store

🚨2025/26 LFC x adidas range🚨

LFC x adidas

Shop the away range TODAY

LFC x adidas

Shop the home range today!

LFC x adidas

Shop the goalkeeper range today

LFC x adidas

Shop the new adidas range today!

However, they also want to get a solid fee for him. Too low and there's arguably more value in simply keeping him around for another year.

But chairman Steve Parish has admitted that they want to move Guehi on before the window shuts. Liverpool remain the only club likely to get him.

And Ornstein reiterates that point in his report. "If he leaves Palace now, Guehi only has eyes for Liverpool," he writes.

However, there's a hang up. Liverpool aren't 100 per cent sure they need the player anymore.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas away range

Liverpool's centre-back options

Ornstein claims Liverpool aren't as all-in on Guehi as they could be, if only because there's no great need for an extra centre-back right now. That's because they view their current four options as 'elite'.

And that's particularly notable as Giovanni Leoni is in that group. The 18-year-old joined Liverpool last Friday in a £25m deal from Parma.

It appears Liverpool immediately view him in that 'elite' bracket and as a viable option from the get-go. Thus they don't actually need to overpay for Guehi and there appears to be a level of patience.