Liverpool Move Early as Talks Restart for Cut-Price Guehi Deal Amid Rising Konate Contract Concerns
According to various media outlets, Liverpool has reportedly rekindled their pursuit of Marc Guehi, the accomplished defender from Crystal Palace, with initial discussions now purportedly in progress as the January transfer window draws nearer.
The Merseyside club is currently experiencing a rather underwhelming campaign in the Premier League.
The reigning titleholders find themselves in an unaccustomed eighth position after thirteen league fixtures, trailing their fierce competitors, Manchester United, by a solitary place.
During the preceding summer transfer period, Liverpool had clearly aimed to fortify their defensive line with at least one new central defender.
While they did manage to acquire*Giovanni Leoni from Parma, they had their sights set on another target.
Indeed, the Reds were on the cusp of securing Guehi, the highly-regarded Crystal Palace centre-back, on the very last day of the summer window.
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However, the London club ultimately aborted the transaction, reportedly while the England international was undergoing his routine medical assessments.
Nevertheless, recent dispatches from TEAMtalk now suggest that Liverpool has re-engaged in direct negotiations with Guehi’s representatives, with the intention of finalizing his transfer during the upcoming winter window.
Anonymous sources have reportedly conveyed to the publication that the Reds are now prepared to propose a fee in the range of £25 million to £30 million to complete the acquisition.
This prospective offer signifies a considerable reduction from the approximate £70 million valuation that was frequently speculated upon in connection with the player roughly a year ago.
It appears that Marc Guehi, the central defender currently with Crystal Palace, is poised for a departure from Selhurst Park. Should a financial agreement for his transfer not come to fruition during the upcoming January transfer window, he is expected to exit the club as a free agent when his contract expires in the summer.
Reports suggest that Guehi himself is quite receptive to the prospect of a move to Liverpool, with the Merseyside club currently positioned as the primary contender in the pursuit of his services.
This potential recruitment for Liverpool unfolds amidst growing speculation regarding the future of their existing defensive stalwart, Ibrahima Konate.
The French international’s recent spell of inconsistent performances has reportedly led European football powerhouse Real Madrid to withdraw their interest in acquiring the Liverpool defender, who, according to some interpretations, could become available without a transfer fee at the culmination of the current season.Further corroborating these insights, Mick Brown, a former chief scout for Manchester United who maintains extensive connections within the upper echelons of the Premier League, firmly contends that the Liverpool hierarchy is now harbouring significant reservations about extending Konate’s current contractual terms.
Brown expanded on these concerns, stating to Football Insider: “There have been underlying worries regarding Konate’s dependability for a considerable period.
He possesses a tendency for committing an excessive number of errors, and this issue has been severely compounded by his displays throughout the current campaign, a period during which Liverpool themselves have been encountering challenges.
While his peak performances are undeniably of a very high standard, there exists a discernible vulnerability where he is susceptible to making crucial mistakes that can potentially undermine the outcome of a match.”
He further elaborated, “This inherent weakness is precisely why Liverpool has developed these hesitations, and it also serves as the reason Real Madrid decided to discontinue their pursuit.
It did not surprise me in the slightest to hear of their withdrawal; I am aware that they would have been meticulously observing his performances this season and subsequently concluded that they require an individual with greater consistency and unwavering reliability in that defensive role.
I believe those persistent uncertainties surrounding his contributions have simply become too prominent to overlook.”
According to recent reports from Sky Sports correspondent Vinny O’Connor last week, the Merseyside club, Liverpool, maintains a strong desire to secure a renewed contractual agreement with their central defender, Ibrahima Konate, provided that mutually acceptable stipulations can be established.
O’Connor conveyed that the Anfield hierarchy remains steadfast in its commitment to obtaining Konate’s signature on an extended deal, conditional upon the agreement of satisfactory terms.
Konate’s current pact is set to conclude when the present campaign draws to a close, and it is widely anticipated that he will commence investigating alternative professional prospects once January arrives, a period during which he gains the liberty to engage in direct discussions with non-domestic organizations regarding a future transfer.
Previously, elite Spanish club Real Madrid had shown considerable interest in acquiring Konate on a complimentary transfer; however, subsequent intelligence indicates that this eagerness from the Spanish capital has notably diminished.
Liverpool’s administration will only sanction a renewed agreement with Konate if the proposed remuneration package aligns precisely with their established wage framework.
Concurrently, the club is diligently surveying the broader transfer market for suitable replacements to bolster their defensive options.
A prominent candidate identified in this search is Marc Guehi, the esteemed England international and Crystal Palace centre-back.
His contractual situation mirrors that of Konate, as he too will enter the final six months of his agreement in the upcoming January transfer window, making him a potentially attractive free agent or a player available for a reduced fee.
German football giants Bayern Munich also reportedly harbour an interest in Guehi; however, their primary objective at this juncture is to secure the continued services of Dayot Upamecano, another highly-rated central defender whose current contract with the Bavarian club extends until June 2026.
