Liverpool open talks over Marc Guehi transfer as double defender deal eyed

The Reds are hopeful of added to their central defensive ranks with two new additions before the transfer window closes, having sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen this summer

Liverpool have opened talks with Crystal Palace to land Marc Guehi, and the Reds are hopeful on a deal after initial discussions.

Centre-back Guehi is keen to make the move to Anfield and play Champions League football. The decision will be a blow to Palace who had previously hoped they could hold on to their star defender. But earlier this week chairman Steve Parish did admit they may have to sell the player.

The Reds will also target Parma defender Giovanni Leoni. They have yet to approach the Serie A club about the centre-back.

But they are eager to land Leoni, 18, in this window and a ready to explore the details of a deal. Arne Slot wants defensive reinforcements in before the transfer window closes, with Crystal Palace defender Guehi the top target.

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The Reds sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen earlier in the window while Nat Phillips also departed for West Brom.

Joe Gomez is the most senior back up to Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk but he is currently injured.

Leoni broke into the Parma team last season and made 17 appearances in the Italian top tier. The Italy under-19 international has been eyed by several top Serie A clubs, but Liverpool view him as a perfect addition to the squad and a player who can develop training alongside the likes of Van Dijk and Konate.

Guehi has been a top target this summer having established himself as one of the leading English centre-backs in the Premier League. He captained Palace to the FA Cup last summer, and led to side to their penalty shootout win over Liverpool in Sunday’s Community Shield.

Having come through the ranks at Chelsea, for whom he only played two competitive games, Guehi enjoyed an impressive season and a half on loan at Swansea City before his 2021 move to Palace.

He has played 156 times for the south London club, scoring eight goals, and having broken into the England team while at Palace he currently has 23 international caps.

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