Liverpool make Marc Guehi transfer decision as defensive Plan B emerges

Feargal Brennan

Liverpool make Marc Guehi transfer decision as defensive Plan B emerges image

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot may only look to bring in one more new face to his squad this summer.

The Reds broke the Premier League transfer record to sign Florian Wirtz in June alongside a deal for his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong.

Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili have also landed at Anfield with a fresh deal agreed to bring in Hugo Ekitike for £69m from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Slot has been linked with more players, but the finalities of the Ekiitike deal could be the end of his summer business, with the Dutch coach keen to have his squad complete before the start of their Premier League defence.

A new centre-back was rumoured to be on Slot's hit list amid growing uncertainty over Ibrahima Konate's future on Merseyside.

The France international is now into the final 12 months of his contract, and the club hierarchy are determined to avoid more contract chaos on the back of tricky 2025, with Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi lined up as a replacement option.

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However, Liverpool will not pay Palace's demand of £50m [$68.6m] and Slot is now on course for a different approach.

MORE: Newcastle confirm reason for Alexander Isak's preseason absence amid Liverpool link

Liverpool end Marc Guehi link to focus on current defenders

With a firm stance taken on Guehi, Liverpool will make one final offer to retain Konate, with their No.5 rumoured to be unhappy with the latest salary offer put forward to his representatives.

Real Madrid are tracking the 26-year-old, but their preference is for a free transfer next summer, despite Liverpool's determination to secure a resolution in either direction before the end of August.

If Konate remains beyond the transfer window, Liverpool will have a reduced chance of keeping him, as a free exit looms into possibility.

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Reports from Liverpool.com claim Slot is happy to stick with what he's got with Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez established as his senior centre-backs.

Andy Robertson is also expected to be in central defence in selected games, with Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch capable of dropping back from midfield, and Amara Nallo backed for a first-team role in 2025/26.

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Feargal Brennan

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.