Three Marc Guehi Alternatives Liverpool Could Sign This Summer | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Centre-Back Conundrum: Smart Alternatives to Marc Guehi

With Jarell Quansah heading to Bayer Leverkusen and a glaring hole emerging in Liverpool’s backline, the club’s recruitment team are forced into action. The loss of a promising homegrown talent makes it all the more urgent. Yet as reported by Rousing The Kop, while Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi ticks all the right boxes on paper, Liverpool appear to be swerving away from what could be an expensive gamble.

The Reds are reportedly reluctant to match Palace’s valuation of Guehi, especially with only a year left on his contract. Add to that the noise around Guehi seeking first-team assurances and it’s easy to see why Liverpool may be looking elsewhere. “There have also been claims that Guehi would want guarantees of first team football if he joins Liverpool,” the report notes.

So what now? Liverpool need a centre-half who can step in, not kick up a fuss if benched, and ideally, strengthen the club’s homegrown quota. The alternatives identified by Rousing The Kop make for intriguing reading.

Harwood-Bellis Makes Perfect Sense

One name stands out for both logic and availability: Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League has made him a realistic target, and as Rousing The Kop points out, “Sky Sports report Porto have had a £19m bid rejected for Harwood-Bellis.”

Photo: IMAGO

Given Liverpool’s hesitation to spend heavily on a back-up option, this one makes perfect business sense. Homegrown, experienced, and with the hunger to prove himself back in the top flight, the former Manchester City academy product would slot in without fuss.

Collins Offers Premier League Polish

Then there’s Nathan Collins, the Brentford man whose consistency has quietly raised his stock. Still just 24 and already racking up minutes in England’s top flight, Collins offers the ideal mix of readiness and room for growth. “After another good season with Brentford, Collins has reaffirmed his status as one of the Premier League’s most underrated centre-backs,” notes the piece.

He wouldn’t come cheap, but he also wouldn’t expect to be straight into Arne Slot’s starting XI. That profile suits Liverpool’s current needs perfectly.

Cresswell Worth a Left-Field Look

And finally, Charlie Cresswell. A wildcard shout perhaps, but one worth considering. Having moved abroad and earned regular minutes with Toulouse, the England U21 international has developed well. “Robust and rugged, the 22-year-old is perhaps not quite the archetypal Liverpool centre-back,” says Rousing The Kop, “but he could yet develop into a really good player.”

Photo: IMAGO

Cresswell might be the most affordable of the three and, crucially, represents a project — something Liverpool’s recruitment team have excelled with in recent years.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

There’s a pragmatic feel to this summer’s centre-back search, and rightly so. With Arne Slot guiding Liverpool to the Premier League title in his debut season, the core of the squad is clearly functioning. But depth is key and replacing Quansah smartly, without overspending or unsettling the current pecking order, is vital.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis feels like the most Liverpool-esque solution: under the radar, reasonable fee, and brimming with upside. Collins would be an astute addition if finances allow, but might be a stretch given other areas of need. Cresswell’s development in France shows courage, and if Como are sniffing around, Liverpool could certainly swoop in and offer a more compelling project.

Ultimately, the Guehi situation seems too pricey and too politically complex for a club that thrives on harmony in the dressing room. Liverpool need someone willing to earn their place, not demand it. If Guehi can’t accept that, these three alternatives all present viable, intelligent fallback options.