Marc Guehi: Liverpool open talks with Crystal Palace for summer transfer as Reds eye double defensive swoop | OneFootball

Premier League champions are expected to continue their summer spending spree

Liverpool’s pursuit of Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi has taken a positive step.

Furthermore, the report states that Palace are believed to want £40million for him now, but Liverpool want to pay less than that having already spent around £270million this summer.

That said, in a boost for the Reds, Eagles chairman Steve Parish has admitted that he is prepared to cash in on Guehi before the current transfer window closes to avoid potentially losing the centre-back for free next summer.

Speaking after the Community Shield penalty shootout win over Liverpool, Parish said: “Yes. Of course, for players of that calibre to leave on a free, it is a problem for a football club.

“There is no doubt about it, unfortunately. Last summer, Joachim [Andersen] went, and we couldn’t afford to lose both of them.

“We then had another bid in January, but that was a difficult situation as well. We will just have to see what happens. It needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind.”

In a separate deal to Guehi, Liverpool are also trying to sign Parma centre-back Giovanni Leoni.

It is understood the 18-year-old Italian is not seen as a potential rival for Guehi but more as one for the future.