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Liverpool’s failed move for Marc Guehi has hit home much harder for supporters over the past week or so.
Giovanni Leoni’s ACL tear means that, unless the Reds dip into the January transfer market, Arne Slot will have to guide his side through the rest of the season with only three senior center-back options.
Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez are certainly good options to have when they’re fit, but relying on the latter pair for a whole campaign does feel like a big risk - and Konate’s performances at the moment are not helping to ease any of those fears.
The Frenchman has had a poor start to the season, with his last couple of displays against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray leading to some inevitable questions over whether his mind is elsewhere, given his contract expires at the end of the season.
Compare his performances with Guehi’s, it’s no wonder that Liverpool fans may have been looking on enviously at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
Although his deadline day deal fell through, the Reds still retain an interest, and it does seem likely that they will revisit the transfer at a later date. If the latest reports are anything to go by though, they might have to get a move on.
According to Caught Offside, Tottenham has now emerged as one of the leading contenders to sign Guehi. It's suggested that a January bid could be launched by Spurs, with his expiring contract making him an attractive and cost-effective target.
As well as Spurs, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also said to be weighing up January bids, with Guehi claimed to have instructed his representatives to keep lines open with Real in particular.
Whether that will spring Liverpool into action remains to be seen, although the Reds’ current stance does seem to suggest they will wait for him to become available for free in the summer.
Asked last week whether Leoni’s injury could force Liverpool to make a move in January, Slot seemed to indicate that the club is not currently planning on entering the market.
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“That all depends on whether we get more injuries, yes or no, and if there's a chance in the market - all the answers I always give,” Slot said.
“But I would not prefer to go to 24/25 players. Also, if it is ever a situation where I lead a team that has four or five injuries throughout the whole season, it might be a bit smarter to go to 24/25, but recent history showed that [we have a good record] until now.
“We don't have five or six injuries at the same time throughout the whole season. If that would be the situation, then we would end up with 15/16 players and that would normally be difficult.
“So it's a choice I like to make but I think it is also a financial choice that we as a club have to make. If we want to keep these top players, we cannot have 24/25 of them.”
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