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With just over a week left of the summer transfer market, Liverpool has two players on its agenda: Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi.
Arguably, Arne Slot could do with two attackers — one minimum, whatever happens with Isak — while Guehi has been a quieter saga, but a story that has rumbled on. On both fronts, time is running out, and there is plenty of conflict at Crystal Palace regarding what happens next with the latter.
"If Marc leaves, maybe I will try my boots because I was a center-back," manager Oliver Glasner said this week. "We have to act. It's Crystal Palace's future and we need to add numbers."
But since then, Crystal Palace has sold Eberechi Eze for a fee of around $91 million (£67 million). He was presented to Arsenal fans on Saturday after their side's 5-0 win over Leeds United.
"I just know if Marc leaves and is not available for Frederikstad, we will have big troubles," Glasner added. "That's pretty clear. We can't register anyone. So from my side, he has to stay."
Keeping Guehi obviously comes with benefits, but Crystal Palace would also risk losing him for nothing when his contract expires.
For Glasner and Guehi, in fairness, it would work nicely. Glasner would keep arguably his best player in a European campaign, and Guehi would get to represent the South London side in the Conference League before having his pick of clubs next summer.
The issue, though, is that Crystal Palace's hierarchy doesn't see things that way. And by making that clear, it has completely given away any kind of bargaining position.
"For players of that calibre to leave on a free, it's a problem for us, unfortunately," CEO Steve Parish said. "Joachim [Andersen] went [to Fulham last summer] and we couldn't afford to lose both. It needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind."
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What does Liverpool do, then? Clearly, it doesn't need to overpay. And having signed Giovanni Leoni, the highly rated 18-year-old, from Parma, there is less pressure to do a deal for another defender unless the price is right.
Getting Guehi for around $40 million (£30 million) would represent a market opportunity for Liverpool. Spending more than that, rather than waiting a year and signing him for nothing, would not.
The closer it gets to September 1, when the transfer deadline arrives, the likelier Crystal Palace will be to accept a cut-price fee. By then, the second leg against Frederikstad will be out of the way too — something Glasner hinted was a non-negotiable.
Just like with Isak, it could be a game of brinkmanship. But unlike in the case of the Swede, Liverpool isn't as desperate for another addition in Guehi's position, and can afford to wait.
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