Liverpool take CHARGE of battle for Premier League star

Liverpool are firmly in the driving seat for one Premier League star. The Reds hold the cards as crunch time nears.

There are now around two weeks left of the summer transfer window and Liverpool are far from done. That's despite possibly the busiest window we've ever seen from the Reds.

Richard Hughes and co. have set about overhauling the first-team squad. We've had record-breaking arrivals, high-profile exits, and a lot of drama, honestly.

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Liverpool have changed their defence significantly and their attack has been reshaped around Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké. And yet both areas are set to see moe changes.

Alexander Isak is the big one up top, of course. Liverpool are desperate to sign the Swede and would pay a British transfer record fee in order to get it done.

Defence, though, isn't sorted either. Liverpool are on the verge of signing Giovanni Leoni from Parma - one of the best young talents in Europe right now.

It's a deal that should lock down the future of their defence. But it also hands them the initiative in another centre-back race.

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Liverpool want Marc Guehi

Fabrizio Romano is adamant that Liverpool still want to sign Marc Guehi despite the deal for Leoni. Crystal Palace are open to selling their captain as he's now within the final year of his contract.

In fact, Palace are actively looking to sell. Chairman Steve Parish admitted as much this week - the Eagles can't afford to let Guehi leave for free in 2026.

It created a game of chicken, essentially. Palace want a sizeable fee despite the risk of nothing in a year. Liverpool want a discounted fee because of the risk of nothing in a year.

Whose nerve would hold? Well, Liverpool's as it turns out.

Palace's power in negotiations came from Liverpool needing a new centre-back. Jarell Quansah left the club this summer, leaving the Reds short.

Leoni, however, now fills the void left by Quansah. It means the squad doesn't actually need Guehi right now - Liverpool would just like to have him early.

A week ago, Palace knew they could hold firm on their fee and Liverpool may be forced to pay it in order to avoid heading into the upcoming season with only three centre-backs. We've seen that story before, after all, and it ends horrendously.

But now Liverpool are likely fine with waiting on Guehi. They've got four centre-backs and now it's Palace who are the most eager to get a deal done.

It should see the asking price drop as we get closer to the end of the window and closer to Guehi leaving for free. Advantage Liverpool.

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**💣 **EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool's immediate reaction to real Giovanni Leoni price-tag 💣

**🚨 **Fabrizio Romano gives Liverpool 'guarantee' over Alexander Isak 🚨