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Liverpool could reignite its interest in the Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi next year, with the England ace set to be a free agent at the end of the season when his contract expires.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner refused to sell Guehi in the summer when he couldn't source a replacement but has since confirmed that the 25-year-old won't be penning new terms. That means he will either leave Selhurst Park in January or after the campaign comes to a close.
On transfer deadline day, Liverpool agreed a deal to bring Guehi to Anfield. However, the plug was pulled at the last second and Arne Slot's side was made to wait.
Earlier this week, Crystal Palace teammate Adam Wharton admitted he felt Guehi would be gone, but the player has since performed well and remained professional, representing the South London side in the Europa Conference League.
Wharton is away with England for games with Serbia and Albania this week, but Guehi has missed out on playing for Thomas Tuchel's side thanks to an injury.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, who was speaking to Ace Odds, Liverpool remains the favorite to sign Guehi in 2026. The center-back has also been linked with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck could be another in-demand defender next year, with Liverpool tipped to be among the clubs keeping an eye on his situation.
It isn't beyond the realms of possibility that Liverpool might need to sign two center-backs next year, with Ibrahima Konate yet to pen new terms, Virgil van Dijk now 34, and Joe Gomez having nearly left in each of the last two summers.
"Liverpool tried to bring in Marc Guehi, which also tells you that they felt they needed to strengthen that part of the team," former Reds midfielder Igor Biscan said this week.
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"So it's not a coincidence that they have, if there are problems, and in all honesty, there are some problems and they're conceding too many goals. They knew that or they expected that for this reason.
"They really wanted to sign a top-class center-back. So that's maybe the indication that there is something that position needs to be sorted.
"I believe it will be sorted. In the near future, it needs to be sorted."
Liverpool.com says: Guehi would be a good signing, especially on a free. He won't solve all the defensive issues on his own, though. That will require a bigger shift across the whole team, where the balance needs to be right.
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