24-year-old Defender Urged to Sign for Liverpool in £40m Deal This Summer | OneFootball

Marc Guehi to Liverpool? Why Crystal Palace Star is a Logical Fit for Slot’s Champions

Liverpool’s transfer activity under Arne Slot has been measured but impactful. With three arrivals already secured and Milos Kerkez on the verge of joining from Bournemouth, the club appears to be building smartly for a second consecutive title push.

Kerkez fills a troublesome position at left-back, offering depth and dynamism, but attention now shifts to central defence. Jarell Quansah is expected to complete a move to Bayer Leverkusen worth around £30 million. That leaves only three senior centre-backs available, and with Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez both having chequered injury records, reinforcements are more a necessity than a luxury.

Photo: IMAGO

Guehi’s Situation and Suitors

Enter Marc Guehi. The Crystal Palace captain has just a year left on his contract, and the Eagles are open to selling this summer to avoid losing him on a free in 2026. With a rumoured valuation of £35 to £40 million, the 24-year-old could offer Liverpool an economical solution for a key position.

Guehi, already seen by many as England’s most consistent centre-back, has attracted attention from across the top six. Darren Bent, speaking to talkSPORT, summed up the transfer logic from all angles:

“It’s a difficult one, but if Liverpool come calling, certainly with the way Liverpool are recruiting at the minute, that’s the place to go,” he said.

“I get it, he might have to go there and battle for his place, but I think Konate has got one year left… Liverpool sell Konate to Real Madrid, if they’re willing to pay, and then they buy Guehi.”

“Neither player goes for free, you get a fee for both players, and I think Guehi can go to Liverpool and start.”

“Of course he’s going to have one eye on the World Cup next year, I think he’ll be in that, he’s far too good of a defender to not be in it.”

Financial Logic and Defensive Planning

With Quansah’s likely departure and speculation around Real Madrid’s interest in Konate, Liverpool may be tempted to reshuffle the defensive deck. Even if Konate extends his stay, Guehi would provide immediate competition and long-term stability. His profile fits the system: composed on the ball, strong in duels and a vocal organiser at the back.

Moreover, Liverpool’s interest in high-profile talents like Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong means that funds must be managed cleverly. Guehi’s price, given his quality and contract situation, looks like one of the smarter investments Liverpool could make this summer.

Crystal Palace’s Dilemma and Guehi’s Next Step

From Palace’s perspective, losing their captain is far from ideal. Yet the timing of his contract and his ambitions make it difficult to keep him. At 23, Guehi is entering his peak and will want to test himself at the top level, especially with the World Cup looming.

Bent’s final comments reflect a reluctant admiration:

“I wouldn’t like to see him go to Liverpool because that’s making them stronger, but it’s just weird that Liverpool have a centre-half who’s got a year left and he’s being courted by Real Madrid, and Guehi has a year left.”

Slot has already shown that he’s willing to evolve the squad, and Guehi’s potential arrival would reinforce that message. If Liverpool are serious about maintaining dominance, signing one of the Premier League’s most consistent defenders might not just be wise, it might be necessary.