Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi lifted silverware for the second time in four months on Sunday, as the Eagles added the Community Shield to their FA Cup success.
Yet lifting the Community Shield after Palace’s penalty shoot-out triumph over Liverpool could be one of his final acts in the club’s shirt, with the defender targeted by their beaten opponents.
Daily Mail Sport reported on Tuesday that the Premier League champions had made direct contact with Palace over Guehi.
The Reds are also targeting 18-year-old Parma defender Giovanni Leoni, with the club eager to add at least one centre back this window.
Daily Mail Sport reported in June how Guehi was of interest but the clubs were too far apart in their valuations.
Palace had wanted £45million for the England international, but with a year left on his contract a deal could potentially be struck for £35m.
Liverpool are in talks with Crystal Palace over the possible signing of their captain Marc Guehi
Guehi would add much needed depth behind Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate
Guehi led Palace to the Community Shield over Liverpool but could join the reigning champions
Guehi would likely prove a shrewd addition by providing added competition and a possible succession plan for Van Dijk, with the Liverpool captain now 34.
At 25, Guehi would prove a long-term solution for the Reds, with the centre back also providing added leadership having captained the Eagles last season.
With Liverpool looking to challenge across four fronts this season, availability will be a major consideration.
Guehi started 44 matches for Crystal Palace last season, including leading the Eagles out in all of their ties on route to FA Cup glory.
The centre back was ruled out of four Premier League matches last season, missing the final two matches with an eye injury that forced him off in the FA Cup final. He was also suspended on two occasions, with one a result of accumulating yellow cards and the other following a late sending off against Brighton in April.
His record compares favourably to Liverpool’s current back-up option Joe Gomez, with the defender having missed months of last season with a hamstring injury. Gomez has already suffered a minor Achilles injury which has seen him miss much of Liverpool’s pre-season.
Statistics compiled by SofaScore can also shed further light on Guehi’s defensive abilities.
The centre back averaged 4.45 clearances and 0.86 interceptions per match last season. The figures are lower than the 4.61 and 1.37 achieved by Van Dijk, but higher than Ibrahima Konate’s figures of 3.98 and 0.64 respectively.
Guehi started 44 matches for Crystal Palace last season and served as the Eagles captain
Joe Gomez’s ongoing injury problems have increased the need for more defensive cover
Guehi made more tackles than both of Liverpool’s first choice centre backs last season, averaging 1.70 per match, while Van Dijk and Konate were forced to make 0.94 and 1.07 respectively. His percentage of duels won was lower than the Liverpool duo at 59.7, down on their 67.8 and 65.2.
His numbers are likely to be impacted by Crystal Palace being forced to defend more than the champions last season, leading to an increased number of tackles and duels for Guehi to win.
However, the Eagles conceded just 10 more league goals (51) than Liverpool last season, despite finishing 12th, with Guehi at the heart of their backline.
Guehi would likely spend more time in possession should he move to Anfield and he has demonstrated his ability on the ball at Palace.
Last season, Guehi has a passing accuracy of 84.7 per cent with the defender making 1,978 passes during the Premier League season.
Van Dijk and Konate made 3,500 and 2,122 respectively, boasting an accuracy of 91.7 and 90.5 per cent.
Guehi’s style appears more similar to Van Dijk, with the England international having attempted 149 long passes with 45.6 per cent reaching the target. Van Dijk struck 214 at a 56.2 per cent accuracy.
Konate appears more conservative with only 67 long passes attempted, with a lower accuracy of 43.8.
Guehi contributed for Palace with three goals and two assists, as well as his defensive work
Arne Slot and Liverpool have been in the market to add defensive cover for the new season
The defenders each contributed effectively in attack as well last season with Guehi scoring three goals and providing two assists. Van Dijk’s goal contributions are higher with six – five goals and one assist – while Konate was involved in four – two goals and two assists.
While Guehi is in Van Dijk’s shadow when compared via their statistics, there is promise that the defender could make a further leap if he makes the move to Anfield and potentially emerge as the Dutchman’s successor at the back.
Any deal for Guehi would be separate to a move for Parma’s Leoni, with the 18-year-old reflective of Liverpool’s desire to recruit a young defender for the long-term.
Liverpool have watched the Italian under-19 international extensively and have been impressed in his 17 appearances in Serie A.
The teenager has also received the seal of approval from the great AC Milan boss Arrigo Sacchi, who he has claimed could become the future of the Italian national team.
‘I’m convinced he’ll be the lynchpin of the Azzurri defence for a long time,’ Sacchi wrote in Gazzetta Dello Sport.
‘Some, regarding a possible transfer to Liverpool, object that this young man has only made 17 Serie A appearances so far. Aren’t those few? No, I reply. Not few, because on those occasions Leoni has demonstrated the qualities needed to go far.
‘If someone is good, if someone has their head in the right place, it’s immediately obvious.
Liverpool are also chasing Parma’s £35m-rated teenage defender Giovanni Leoni this summer
‘A person can have 200 Serie A games under their belts and still not possess the qualities Leoni displayed in his first season as an adult. Talent knows no age.’
Leoni would is expected to set Liverpool back around £35m, the same price the Reds would likely have to pay for Guehi.
The deals would continue a major spending spree from the Reds, with their additions in attack and pursuit of Alexander Isak having taken most of the attention.
Should they seal the signings of Guehi and Leoni, Arne Slot’s side could added the defensive foundations for several years.
