Liverpool place Marc Guehi at top of transfer wishlist to replace Joel Matip
Liverpool have put buying a new centre-half top of their shopping list.
Liverpool were looking at bringing in a successor to Joel Matip, even before he suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury at the start of December because he is out of contract in the summer.
Matip is 33 in August, although Jurgen Klopp has since hinted that he may be given a contract extension for next season to see him back playing. Skipper Virgil van Dijk is 33 in July and although Liverpool’s defensive colossus is playing as well as ever, the Reds feel they need another option at centre-half.
Liverpool wanted to do some business last summer, when they completely overhauled their midfield, but the right player, at the right price was not available.
The form of Joe Gomez, who has been a revelation for Liverpool, playing centre-half, right-back and left-back, and Jarell Quansah has taken away the urgency from this search. They have provided admirable back-up and lessened the need for Liverpool to rush into the market.
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Despite losing the vastly-experienced Matip, Liverpool still boast the best defence in the Premier League, a telling statistic for any title-winning side. They have conceded just 18 goals in their 21 games ahead of Arsenal on 20 and Manchester City on 23.
The player Liverpool like is Crystal Palace ’s Marc Guehi and the 23-year-old has blossomed nicely at Selhurst Park. He is a proven Premier League performer and an England international under Gareth Southgate.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will look to refresh his options at the back at the end of the season (Getty Images)That deal has to wait until the summer and there is no way Palace would part with him now with their Premier League status under threat unless they received a silly-money offer.
The other issue likely to rear its head again in the summer is the future of Mohamed Salah and another bid from Saudi Arabia. Salah has entered the final 18 months of his Liverpool contract and the Reds would like him to agree new terms to avoid losing him on a free in July 2025.
They would have to sell him this summer when he turns 32 to get anything for him and how do you replace a guy who has scored 204 goals for you since he joined in 2017?
That’s a question for another day and at present Liverpool feel the balance of their squad means the older players are mentoring the younger ones.
Questions over Mo Salah's future will rear their head again in the summer (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)This lessens Liverpool’s need to enter the market and Jurgen Klopp’s No 2 Pep Lijnders says the older players, like Salah and van Dijk, are helping the development of the Quansahs and Conor Bradleys.
“I always believe in that because senior pros act differently when they’re around young players, the Milners, the Mo Salahs, they act differently when there are young players around.
“If you have all 25 and 26 years old in your squad, fighting for the same spot, I tell you that is not a healthy squad. But if you have senior players, they are almost like coaches to the younger ones. I believe one of our strengths is winning together, everyone feels involved.”
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