Liverpool were linked with Marc Guehi for months, and they have identified Alessandro Bastoni and Nico Schlotterbeck as targets.
Marc Guehi was close to joining Liverpool during the summer transfer window, but the move never materialised. The Crystal Palace captain was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool in recent weeks, but he is now set to join Manchester City. The decision to sell the defender to Manchester City this month has not gone down well with Oliver Glasner.
The Crystal Palace manager said on the Guehi saga via Sky Sports, “I heard yesterday at 10.30am for the first time that we were selling Marc. I think the negotiations were a few days long so nobody would have called at 10am and by 10.30am, everything was agreed.
“Then we have to deal with it. One day before a game, we have to come to Sunderland, when we know we’re not on the best run. We know the circumstances with no players available and we’re selling our captain. No team would do this. Other teams, the players play and then the next day, they’re leaving and we are selling the day before?”.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Marc Guehi was never a target for Liverpool during the January transfer window, and they never planned to move for the 25-year-old central defender this month. Liverpool are planning for the future, and they will move for Bastoni and Schlotterbeck when the time is right.
Both players have done quite well for their respective clubs, and there is no doubt that they would be excellent additions for Liverpool and superb alternatives to Marc Guehi. The Reds have looked quite poor at the back this term, and they cannot afford to concede goals regularly if they want to win major trophies. Signing a quality defender could make a big difference for them.
Bastoni has played for one of the biggest clubs in the world, and he has won major trophies with Inter Milan. The move to Liverpool could be the ideal next challenge for him. He will look to establish himself in the Premier League and fight for major trophies with the Reds.
Liverpool also keen on Schlotterbeck
As far as Schlotterbeck is concerned, he has not been able to win major trophies at the club level with Borussia Dortmund. The German international will look to join a club where he will be able to compete at the highest level. Moving to Liverpool could be ideal for him. Both players have the quality to help Liverpool improve, and it will be interesting to see how the situation develops.
Ideally, Liverpool should look to invest in quality central defenders this summer. If they manage to sign the Italian centre-back and the German international, in the coming months, it would be a major coup for them. As for Marc Guehi, he will be looking forward to his spell with Manchester City, with the official announcement close.