Liverpool Linked with Summer Moves for Two £50m Premier League Defenders | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Defensive Future: Huijsen or Guehi?

As Liverpool look to navigate a post-Klopp era with Arne Slot at the helm, the club’s recruitment strategy is again under the microscope. While Jurgen Klopp’s legacy remains etched in Anfield’s fabric, Slot must now define his own tactical and personnel philosophy. Defence is a clear focal point—and according to insights from Dave Davis on the Anfield Index podcast with Trev Downey, two names are surfacing repeatedly: Dean Huijsen and Marc Guehi.

Youthful Promise Versus Premier League Experience

Davis was unequivocal in confirming Liverpool’s interest in Dean Huijsen, a highly-rated 18-year-old Dutch centre-back currently at AFC Bournemouth. He stated, “David Ornstein has confirmed Liverpool’s interest in Huijsen.” What’s interesting here is the calibre of competition—“Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have all met with his representatives.” That level of attention is telling.

This isn’t merely a scouting mission—it’s a full court press. Yet as Davis shrewdly points out, “Pretty much, he is going to pick wherever he wants to go next and his Dad has even said that he would love for Real Madrid to join the race.” That sort of player agency puts added pressure on Liverpool’s recruitment pitch. Financially, Liverpool cannot outbid the others, and Davis admitted as much: “We’re never going to win the financial battle, but you’ve got to promise him that we are the best route for him to become one of the best defenders in the world.”

There’s a maturity in that observation. Liverpool under Slot must sell a vision. A route to stardom. The difficulty, however, is that Huijsen may not start immediately. “I think the issue is that he would be third choice at first and is he willing to be that patient?” That’s the crux of it. Slot may well rotate tactically, but Liverpool already have Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and Jarell Quansah. It’s not a simple entry.

Photo: IMAGO

And yet, Davis forecasts movement: “He will definitely go in the summer and it wouldn’t surprise me if all of those clubs trigger his £50m release clause and then he gets to just pick.” This is a market shaped by opportunity, not desperation. And Slot must pick wisely.

Guehi: Under the Radar, Over the Bar?

Marc Guehi, meanwhile, represents the opposite side of the spectrum. Premier League experience, international recognition, and quiet consistency. Davis added, “Ornstein did mention Marc Guehi too and mentioned Liverpool’s name alongside him.” But it’s Guehi’s temperament that stands out: “We’ve been talking about this one for months and he is not creating any noise about a move at all because he is so respectful.”

This is important. In an age where agents dominate headlines and players nudge narratives, Guehi’s silence speaks volumes. “He wants to go to that next level, but he’s not going to make it so obvious.” That’s a mentality that should appeal to Slot, particularly in a dressing room undergoing inevitable change.

Photo: IMAGO

Downey raises a pertinent concern, though: “He turns 25 this summer but the immediate argument is that he is too small to be centre-back for Liverpool.” Size has always been a hot topic, but it’s worth noting that Guehi’s positional awareness and athleticism often compensate. Still, with Slot yet to outline his tactical preferences in detail, “we just don’t know what Slot’s plans are and again what would his role in this squad be?”

Fitting the Slot System

That final point is perhaps the most important. Liverpool fans are still adjusting to a post-Klopp identity. Slot brings a different style—possession-based, proactive, positional. The kind of centre-back he wants may not match the archetype we’re used to. Huijsen might fit the long-term ball-playing mould. Guehi might be a plug-and-play short-term answer. Each player answers a different question.

What Liverpool must decide is which question is more urgent.