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Liverpool's unsuccessful attempt to sign Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day could prove expensive. Despite both the Reds and Crystal Palace being open to a deal, it fell through at the last minute due to no fault of Liverpool's.
A deal was agreed just hours before the deadline. Crucially, Guehi himself was on board with the move, even completing a medical and media duties in London. The central defender was ready to put pen to paper, but his current club put a stop to proceedings at the eleventh hour.
This left Liverpool without its desired final signing of a busy summer and in a rather precarious situation. Besides his evident talent, Guehi's appeal lies in the fact that he will become a free agent when his contract with Palace expires in 2026.
Rival clubs are also aware of this, and foreign teams have the upper hand as they can negotiate pre-contract agreements six months earlier than Premier League sides.
It has been reported that despite the 25-year-old's eagerness to join the English champions, he is ready to change his mind and 'has his heart set' on a free transfer to Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid instead.
As Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate's contract is set to expire at the end of the season, the Reds find themselves in a tricky situation in their quest for defensive solidity. They've been linked with Barcelona's Ronald Araujo and Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven, but signing either would likely require paying a premium.
Securing John Stones when his Manchester City contract runs out next summer could offer Arne Slot a highly experienced defensive option. He's a six-time Premier League champion, a Champions League winner, and a regular in the England squad.
The move could echo James Milner's switch to Anfield in 2015 - the midfielder continued to serve Liverpool for several years after being let go by City. However, it's a deal that would only work under certain conditions.
At 31, Stones isn't getting any younger and is already part of a struggling City defence. Konate's contract needs to be renewed so he can remain at the club before this new addition comes in as backup. There's also his previous ties to Everton to consider - it's rare for a player to represent both clubs in his career.
Eric Garcia represents another seasoned champion - boasting one Premier League triumph with City, two La Liga titles with Barcelona, and an Olympic Games gold medal - though he aligns more closely with the age bracket Liverpool were considering alongside Guehi.
He will have reached 25 by the time his contract with La Blaugrana expires in 2026. However, this prospect may not materialise for Liverpool as Garcia has already indicated that renewal discussions are underway with his current club.
"Everything will be discussed soon," he revealed to Jijantes during a September interview. "We've started talking about a renewal. "Captain? Who knows, maybe I could be a candidate for captaincy in the future."
Something of a surprise selection to conclude, as Slot might turn his attention back to the Bundesliga in search of an undiscovered talent - Diogo Leite.
The 26-year-old emerged through FC Porto's youth system before transferring to Union Berlin in 2022, contributing to the club's Champions League qualification during his debut campaign. His development has progressed to where he now ranks amongst the German top flight's most dependable centre-backs.
From Liverpool's standpoint, their recruitment team might be fascinated to discover that Leite sits fourth amongst central defenders who draw direct comparisons to Guehi.
Per 90 minutes, the Portuguese records 2.26 tackles compared to Guehi's 2.00, whilst both register approximately 60 ball touches per match. Liverpool could potentially secure his services without a transfer fee next summer given current circumstances.
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