Fabrizio Romano: Liverpool talks SET over £45m signing

Liverpool are set for talks this week over a £45m signing. So says Fabrizio Romano, anyway.

Liverpool have completed several deals already in the transfer window as we prepare to move into July. It's been the busiest start to a transfer window in their history - and it won't slow down here.

READ MORE: Marc Guehi to Liverpool comes down to £25m

Florian Wirtz is the club-record signing, while Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong both completed deals for around £70m combined. Armin Pecsi is the new future in goal, at least that's the hope.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is gone - he joined Real Madrid a month early for £10m. Caoimhin Kelleher has also departed for Brentford, a fully-expected departure.

Jarell Quansah is the latest of those, with his transfer to Bayer Leverkusen expected to be confirmed by the club shortly. Fabrizio Romano claims that's already gone through, in fact.

Immediately, focus turns to replacing the defender. Liverpool are in need of a new centre-back, especially as Ibrahima Konate's contract enters its final year.

And that explains the talks this week.

READ MORE: Liverpool told what offer it will take to convince Alexander Isak to join

Marc Guehi talks continue

Romano gave another update on Monday as he confirmed Liverpool will be in talks this week over Marc Guehi. Guehi, like Konate, is now in the final year of his contract with Crystal Palace.

But it's not yet clear whether Palace are willing to sell at a price that Liverpool like. One recent claim is that the two parties are around £25m apart in valuation. The BBC claims a deal can be done for £45m.

It's a tricky one. Palace owe Chelsea a percentage of any sale, meaning a reduced fee is actually reduced further for them.

It may ultimately make a lot more sense to hold onto him for a year - the value you get out of a season of Guehi is sizeable, given he's a top defender. Liverpool are ultimately weighing up the same decision as they can always wait a year to sign him for free.

So what is a year of Guehi worth? Even if both teams agree on the amount, Palace will need an extra premium on top of that to make up for Chelsea's cut.

Suddenly it's very clear why this one is difficult to negotiate and why it may be a case of waiting for 2026. Guehi isn't thought to be forcing his way out; the player would also wait if necessary.

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All-important talks this week, then. They could result in a new centre-back for Liverpool. Or they could confirm we're all waiting.