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Liverpool is poised to engage in further discussions with Crystal Palace regarding defender Marc Guehi, following their face-off in the Community Shield - Chelsea, however, is yet to make a fresh approach.
The Reds have pinpointed the England international as a prime defensive target as Arne Slot seeks a long-term replacement for captain Virgil van Dijk, and additional cover is required in the wake of Jarrell Quansah's move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Quansah's exit leaves Liverpool with only three recognised center-backs ahead of the new season, and Slot will be keen to ensure his squad is adequately equipped to defend their Premier League title.
Liverpool is reportedly a big admirer of Guehi and is eager to expedite talks with Palace, but will do so after Sunday's Wembley showdown between the Premier League champions and the FA Cup winners, as per the Daily Mail.
Guehi is much sought-after following an outstanding season with Palace, and his former club Chelsea is rumored to be interested in welcoming him back to Stamford Bridge.
However, at present, the Blues have not tabled a bid for the defender despite losing Levi Colwill to a long-term ACL injury, according to the report.
Enzo Maresca is planning to sign a new defender, and Leverkusen center-back Piero Hincapie is also on his radar.
However, Chelsea are currently focused on securing the signing of Xavi Simons from Red Bull Leipzig, and they're also keen to finalise a deal for Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho. This could potentially give Liverpool an advantage, as Palace are reportedly demanding at least $61 million for a player whose contract expires next summer.
Slot's team has already splashed nearly $400M in the transfer window and is still pursuing a lucrative move for Alexander Isak, despite Newcastle turning down their recent $146M offer.
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The Reds have also approved a British transfer record move of $156M for Florian Wirtz and could end up spending $106M on Hugo Ekitike with add-ons. However, this hasn't deterred the club from pressing on with plans to bolster both ends of the pitch.
Their top priority is to secure Isak's signature, but that move remains uncertain as the player continues to train alone. When questioned about the possibility of selling the Swedish star this weekend, manager Eddie Howe responded: "That's a decision that I won't make, that will be for other people to make.
"We're focusing on [next weekend's Premier League opener against] Aston Villa. Everything else, to a degree, from my perspective is not in my control, so it's not my focus."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Mirror by clicking here.
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