Liverpool might be in danger of losing out on a reported transfer target this month, as a Premier League rival has begun negotiations with the player.
On Friday, David Ornstein of The Athletic reported that Newcastle have started talks with Crystal Palace about a potential transfer for Marc Guehi, becoming the first club to engage in ‘meaningful’ discussions.
Last month, Fabrizio Romano mentioned that Liverpool had conducted several scouting missions on the 24-year-old. However, David Anderson from The Mirror has since stated that Guehi is not a player of interest for Liverpool.
There have been mixed reports about Liverpool’s valuation of Guehi as a potential transfer target this summer. However, if Richard Hughes is keen on bringing Guehi to Anfield, the Reds’ sporting director may need to act quickly.
Newcastle seem to have gained a strong position in the race for Guehi, who was praised as an ‘absolute gem’ by Michael Beale, his former coach at Chelsea’s academy (Sky Sports). With uncertainties surrounding the futures of Joe Gomez and Sepp van den Berg, Liverpool could face a shortage of center-back options. Guehi is considered a ‘perfect fit’ for Liverpool by former Everton chief Keith Wyness, according to Football Insider.
At 24, Guehi is at an ideal stage, with substantial high-level experience and a significant portion of his career ahead of him. He also wouldn’t impact Liverpool’s non-homegrown player quota for domestic and European competitions.
However, one issue that might deter Liverpool from pursuing him aggressively is the potential impact on Jarell Quansah. Given that Virgil van Dijk is likely to be the first-choice defender when available and Guehi might not be satisfied with a backup role, Quansah could be relegated to a secondary position. This scenario could hinder Quansah’s development and be unfair, considering his strong performances since joining the first team.
If Liverpool’s hesitation to pursue Guehi is due to concerns about Quansah’s development and Newcastle’s proactive approach is driven by that, it would be understandable. However, it might be regrettable if Guehi performs exceptionally well at St James’ Park and Liverpool misses out on his talents.
