Richard Hughes set to trigger £70m agreement for Liverpool

After missing out on Marc Guehi, Richard Hughes is on the hunt to sign more centre-backs for Liverpool.

With Giovanni Leoni's injury, which has ruled him out for the rest of the season, Arne Slot's options in the position are threadbare.

We're just a couple of injuries away from having to play Rhys Williams or Wataru Endo at centre-back. Given Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez are both injury prone, this is a genuine possibility.

It's not very sustainable for Liverpool who harbour ambitions of playing at the very highest level and competing for trophies. Especially when the aforementioned Konate is struggling for form and has less than a year left on his contract.

Then there's Virgil van Dijk, who isn't getting any older and Gomez, who continues to be linked with a move away.

So the solution in the coming months and years will be to bolster the centre-back department.

But just who could Liverpool target?

In the January window, Liverpool could return for Guehi. He's well-liked by the club's scouts and he is homegrown, which is an area where Liverpool need to bolster their options.

There's also Nico Schlotterbeck who could be an option. Currently, he's looking to explore moves away from Borussia Dortmund. Having become one of the best progressive passing centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues, he's exactly what Liverpool are missing at the moment.

But given both play the left-sided centre-back role it's going to be interesting whether Liverpool make a move for either. Virgil van Dijk is going to be starting games for the next season and two at the very least.

There's a world in which Liverpool could turn to a back three. If that's the case, Guehi and Schlotterbeck both make a lot of sense.

As does another player who Richard Hughes has already struck an agreement to sign.

Liverpool sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer window much to everyone's surprise. Quansah had fallen down the pecking order but he's still regarded as one of the best young centre-backs in England.

Now he's proving that at Bayer Leverkusen with some spectacular performances, showcasing both his ability to be strong in the duels and also his ability to be a great passer.

Quansah is simply an obvious choice for Liverpool. Especially because Hughes has pretty much already put everything in place for him to return to the club.

Liverpool have a £70m agreement in place to buy-back Quansah from Leverkusen as per a recent report.

And their agreement goes even further. As we wrote previously, Liverpool also have a pre-agreement for a contract with Quansah if that £70m buy-back clause was triggered.

At this stage, it's inevitable that Hughes is going to trigger those agreements and bring Quansah back to Anfield.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range

👉🏻 Liverpool have a NEW right-back and he's the best in the world

👉🏻 Marc Guehi is COMING: Liverpool will agree deal to sign England star

👉🏻 Liverpool legend's son is now an elite centre-back