Liverpool have ‘good chance’ of signing £35m ‘machine’

Liverpool believe they are likely to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth during the January transfer window. The problem is that Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also eyeing the opportunity.

The saga is accelerating and with less than two weeks to go until the opener, Reds sporting director Richard Hughes knows Arn Slott’s side could use one or two fresh faces to halt the slump that has tarnished Liverpool’s Premier League title defence.

But while the idea of ​​bringing in a new forward is great, there is also a strong argument to be made that signing a centre-back should be a priority this winter.

Why Liverpool need a new centre-back

This season, there have been many cases in which Liverpool have been desperately defending. Ibrahima Konate is in particular poor form, approaching the final months of his £70,000-a-week contract at Anfield.

Virgil van Dijk, 34, hasn’t had a very good record himself, and the slot backline is poor, with Giovanni Leoni, signed from Parma in the summer of his teens, rupturing his ACL against Southampton in September and being ruled out for the season.

Liverpool need defensive depth. An injury to either of the aforementioned centre-halves in the coming months would create a crisis. FSG need to recognize this and make another push for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.

Guehi, 25, was on the brink of a move to Merseyside during the summer, and his almost confirmed deal with Liverpool was scrapped with 11 hours to go after Palace failed to find a replacement by the deadline.

Now, Liverpool correspondent Lewis Steele has suggested that FSG have “every chance” to back out of the winter transfer as the England international enters the final months of his contract in south London.

However, chairman Steve Parish is expected to ask for £35m, a figure that Manchester City are also keen on, but which could be prohibitive for Liverpool’s owners given the circumstances.

It could be a transformative signature. Look at Dominik Szoboszlai. Analyst Raj Chohan said the Hungarian was “Liverpool’s best player this season”. It’s a sentiment shared by all of the Red persuasion.

Why was Guehi able to become as important as Szoboszlai?

Szoboszlai has stood out offensively this season, like a diamond in a sea of ​​pearls, relentlessly inspiring with his performances in midfield. The 25-year-old occasionally featured as a right-back and impressed there too.

If Guehi steps into Liverpool’s erratic defence, he could make a similar impact, immediately bringing a different flavor and standing out. After all, he was a key part of Crystal Palace’s trophy success in 2025 and is now widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

A “defensive monster”, Guehi goes beyond his positional responsibilities to be confident, calm and creative on the ball, helping Ferry forward and reinforcing his dynamic and progressive play.

In fact, Guehi would create something unique in Liverpool’s rearguard. He is an extraordinary talent and will likely emulate a star like Szoboszlai in this regard. His efforts this season have seen him far outshine his struggling teammates.

Thanks to the leadership and physicality of the Hungarian national team captain, we were able to overcome the disadvantages in the slot system and become stronger and stronger. Florian Wirths has been one of Liverpool’s most disappointing players this season, and his struggles at number 10 have at least been tempered by Szoboszlai’s brilliance.

Likewise, Guehi will help ease Konate’s woes. Pundit Jamie Carragher says the Les Bleus star is “going through an absolute nightmare” and Liverpool desperately need someone to carry his weight.

Guehi might be that man. He is very good and will lift up a Liverpool team that is struggling to get going at the moment.