Fabrizio Romano confirms Liverpool talks for England star

Liverpool are continuing their talks with Crystal Palace over a deal for Marc Guehi. That’s according to a new report from Fabrizio Romano.

It strongly suggests that sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Arne Slot are not currently satisfied with their central defensive options.

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Right now the club have got only three senior options at their disposal including Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez.

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Another central defender, Giovanni Leoni, was added last week from Parma for around £26m. However, the Italian is just 18 years old - and has played only 17 top-flight games in his career.

Konate doubts

Would it be a gamble to throw him in at the deep end rather than letting him settle into life at the club?

Then you need to factor in the complications over Konate’s contract. With the defender’s current deal expiring in 2026, it’s been suggested he’s planning on running down his contract.

Real Madrid of course are lying in wait - prepared to offer the Frenchman an €18m signing-on fee. If he is to go this summer, then some succession planning will be required sooner rather than later.

Guehi can solve the problem

Palace are facing a similar conundrum over Guehi - with their captain’s contract also up in 2026. It makes sense therefore to ship out Konate if he won’t sign a new deal and bring Guehi in as a ready-made, high-class replacement.

Even so, that would leave Liverpool exactly where they were numbers-wise.

With Jarell Quansah having left the club, there is probably call for at least one more senior centre-back even if Konate stays through this summer.

Liverpool require centre-back options

And that’s before we get to the issues faced by Konate and Van Dijk on Friday night against Bournemouth. Neither covered themselves in glory on Antoine Semenyo’s goals and it would be nice for Arne Slot to have increased options.

It is Liverpool’s partnership out of necessity - and doesn’t legislate for injury, suspension or a loss of form.

With much of the transfer focus still on Alexander Isak at the other end of the pitch, it is Liverpool’s threadbare options at centre-back that is the real issue.

Slot and Richard Hughes would do well to act accordingly and push through the signing of the England international.

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