Liverpool could reportedly have a ‘big part to play’ in a prospective transfer ‘domino effect’ in 2026.
The Reds infamously had more than one metaphorical hand on Marc Guehi at the end of the summer, having agreed a £35m deal with Crystal Palace, only for the south London club to pull the plug on the move in the dying hours of deadline day.
That dramatic U-turn has proven to be a major sliding doors moment for LFC, who’ve been plagued by defensive issues this season (38 goals conceded in all competitions) and have been operating with just three senior centre-backs after the sickening ACL injury to Giovanni Leoni.
Liverpool could be involved in centre-back transfer ‘domino effect’
On Friday, Mark Brus reported for the Daily Briefing that Liverpool could at the epicentre of a potential ‘domino effect’ of centre-back transfers in January and next summer.
One source for the publication has said that Guehi has ‘one foot out the door’ as he nears the end of his contract at Selhurst Park, with Palace identifying Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande as their ‘priority target’.
However, the Portuguese champions are set to firmly rebuff any interest in the 22-year-old, who has a release clause of €80m (£70.1m).
Brus added that the Eagles’ determination to sign the Ivory Coast international doesn’t ‘necessarily’ aid Liverpool’s chances of landing Guehi, for whom the Reds are ‘no longer in pole position’.
Should Liverpool consider Diomande as Plan B if Guehi is a no-go?
For all the money spent on new signings last summer, Arne Slot has now found himself light on centre-backs and forwards, and the addition of the former must be a priority for sporting director Richard Hughes in the January transfer window.
Guehi would obviously be a prime candidate to bolster our ranks in that area of the pitch, but the likelihood of Palace selling to a direct domestic rival mid-season is rather slim, even though the pursuit of Diomande might suggest a certain resignation that their captain will leave in 2026.
If Liverpool get a sense of futility over pursuing the Eagles skipper, could they potentially try to gain a modicum of revenge on the Selhurst Park outfit and hijack a prospective move for the Sporting defender, who’s also been linked with the Reds in recent months?
Having just turned 22 but already surpassed a century of appearances for the Lisbon giants, the towering Ivorian has plenty of experience at a high level whilst still being a few years away from hitting his prime.
He’s renowned for being incredibly composed in possession – his pass success rate of 92.7% places him among the top 2% of centre-backs in Europe over the past year (FBref) – and football scout Ben Mattinson has said (via X) that the defender ‘could become a monster in no time’ and is ‘as big of a no-brainer as you can get’ for clubs seeking a quality young player in his position.
Guehi would remain the most ideal acquisition, but Liverpool shouldn’t disregard the possibility of diverting their attention to Diomande if any renewed pursuit of the Palace captain proves to be a wild goose chase.
You can watch Slot’s full post-Inter Milan press conference below, via Empire of the Kop on YouTube:
There are other free transfers next summer if we look at dortmund and bayern munich and they can be at discounted price in January rather than paying 70 million. Guehi should be our priority. We should go all out to get him.
We must bring in a central defender in January, and I think we will. I also think that Salah will be sold. This was agreed in the meeting slot had with Richard Hughes and FSG a few weeks ago. Salah could have played up front against Leeds if the football club had any intention of keeping him. What Salah said was irrelevant because the decision was made before that.
FSG want to cut the wage bill, and get a fee for a 33 year old. It’s also a good distraction for the new signings who appart from Ekitike, have been awful.
The replacement for Salah has been lined up by Richard Hughes and he’s from Bournemouth, we all know who it is. He can play left wing and right wing. I expect two signings in January. FSG have decided to back slot again, but he must get top four, or he will be sacked. He’s probably been the most backed Liverpool manager in the history of the football club. Well over 500 million. Personally, I still think he’s heading for the sack, can’t see top four, we definitely won’t win anything again under this manager.
The next few games are must win so that pressure is off. With Alonso’s situation, slot must be feeling the heat.
The biggest Domino effect could be what’s happening at Real Madrid.
1 Real Madrid keep losing
2 Alonso gets sacked
3 klopp takes Real Madrid job
4 slot keeps losing we drift further away from top 4
5 FSG make their move for Alonso.
there’s no loyalty in football. It’s a results business. FSG are at Liverpool to make money, nothing else.
Alonso was FSG first choice, then there’s how Alonso got the best out of the 116 million wirtz.
Fsg have proved before they can be ruthless. Dalglish was the proof, so was Rodgers. I would say that the Real Madrid job is the hardest in world football, so many egos, big stars and the dressing room to deal with. You could argue that Alonso has a better pedigree than slot. Winning the German league with Bayer Leverkusen is much harder than winning the Dutch league. A former Liverpool player, and a great midfielder is why he was first choice. He ticked all the boxes.
A win tomorrow will ease the pressure on slot massively.
Brighton always seem to raise their game when they
play us. Salah will be there , not on the pitch, saying goodbye with his family.
A legend, not a disgrace. That he was called from a disgrace. Jamie carragher. Shame he wouldn’t leave the country.
Engraved in the best Liverpool team of all time. Name me a better right winger for Liverpool or a better winger in premier league history.
The name Salah will be remembered, through the ages. The name carragher will be quickly forgotten.
Unless you mention spitting.