Liverpool push for Marc Guéhi on deadline day (Credits: Imago Images)
The deadline day has pushed clubs into decisions, and Liverpool has proved to be no outlier to this phenomenon. The Reds’ management under Arne Slot is cruising forward to sign Crystal Palace and England captain Marc Guéhi, with one journalist calling the move ‘imminent’.
Senior football correspondent at GiveMeSport and EPL commentator Ben Jacobs announced that The Eagles have given the green light for a medical. If everything goes well, Slot will finally see depth in the back four since Jarell Quansah’s departure to Bayer Leverkusen.
“BREAKING: Marc Guehi’s £35m move to Liverpool from Crystal Palace is understood to be imminent. Permission granted to undergo a medical”, read Ben Jacobs on X (formerly Twitter).
Several of the Big 6 had shown interest in the English international, except Tottenham Hotspur. The first big interest from The Reds came just after Jarell Quansah’s departure, as was reported by ESPN.
Luck is on Arne Slot’s side as the Englishman is entering the last year of his contract. Liverpool would have had to pay a fortune for the same Crystal Palace captain just a season ago.
The first bid went live in the closing days of August as The Guardian reported a £35m offer. Palace went ahead and rejected it as they were hoping for £5m in add-ons plus a sell-on clause.
Quiz: Name the team Liverpool signed these players from in the 2010s
How Marc Guéhi would fit under Arne Slot at Liverpool?
Englishman Quansah’s departure to Leverkusen triggered a depth crisis in Liverpool’s defence. The Reds had to find a defender who could be used as a plug-and-play piece in the Slot architecture.
Turning to the U21 defenders meant risking a steep learning curve, whereas Guéhi offered unmatched experience in the current market.
The £35m price tag is a steal for someone of Marc’s calibre. Slot can easily use the Englishman in any defensive position, which only adds to Guéhi’s versatility.
The English international has proven to be comfortable playing high-line football. With Slot’s wing-backs pushing high, centre-backs at Anfield are left with a wide space to cover during transitions.
The defender has a decent duel success rate covering big gaps left by the wing-backs. A pairing with Virgil van Dijk offers space to the Dutchman as he helps the transition back into attack.
Guéhi will also push Liverpool to fulfil the homegrown player requirements. Right now, the club only has 7 homegrown players in the squad. The Englishman will cover the void, offering Slot a full 25-man squad across major competitions.
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