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6 Centre-backs Liverpool Must Now Consider After Marc Guehi Snub
Liverpool have been left to rue Marc Guehi’s failed move to Anfield last summer after Manchester City agreed a deal with Crystal Palace for the English defender.
Guehi is headed to City in a £20 million deal, four months after Palace manager Oliver Glasner prevented the 25-year-old from joining the Reds on deadline day. The player was in Merseyside putting the finishing touches on a move to Arne Slot’s side before Glasner threatened to leave if his skipper was sold.
Liverpool had the entire summer to seal Guehi’s arrival, but opted to wait until the last day to make an official swoop for the Englishman. He is now joining their Premier League rivals, a massive blow to Slot’s planned rebuild.
The Reds’ recruitment team could have alternatives in mind that would still allow them to strengthen the defence, either this month or in the summer. Here are six potential targets for the defending champions to consider after missing out on Guehi.
Maxence Lacroix – Crystal Palace
While Guehi has shone in Palace’s defence, his partner Maxence Lacroix has also impressed at Selhurst Park. The French defender fits the bill for Liverpool, given his age and adaptability, and he can play on either side of central defence.
The Frenchman has already been on the Reds’ radar, and there were reports back in the summer linking him with a move to Anfield alongside Guehi. He is fast, athletic and plays on the front foot while possessing strength that has kept some of the league’s top attackers quiet.
Liverpool might have to pay a higher fee than the £20m City are paying for Guehi, because Lacroix is under contract to Palace until 2029. But he could be keen to make the move, given he’s losing his defensive partner and his manager has confirmed he’ll also be departing in the summer.
Ousmane Diomande – Sporting CP
One name that has been constantly linked with a Premier League move in recent years is Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande. That includes Liverpool, which has been eyeing the Ivorian centre-back since early 2025.
Diomande has been starring in Liga Portugal with eye-catching performances and helped Sporting retain their title last season. He’s good on the ball, strong, pacey, and can adapt to either a back three or a back four.
The 22-year-old is believed to have a £50m release clause in his contract, which expires in the summer of 2027. The only risk is swooping for a player from abroad, especially Portugal, given Viktor Gyokeres’ less-than-convincing start at Arsenal.
Micky van de Ven – Tottenham
Perhaps the most glamorous Guehi alternative would be swooping for Tottenham Hotspur‘s Micky van de Veck who is surely pondering his future given Spurs’ struggles. The Dutchman remains one of the very best centre-backs in the league, but his team are enduring a crisis under Thomas Frank.
Van de Ven has shown he can thrive in the league with stunning performances, and that includes going forward. He has occasionally embarked on astounding runs and even found the back of the net as he did against Copenhagen in November.
A move for the 24-year-old could be aided by Spurs’ precarious situation and the player’s desire to make the switch to Anfield. Reports suggest he has his sights set on the red side of Merseyside, and he is said to have supported the club during his childhood.
Marcos Senesi – Bournemouth
If Liverpool don’t want to spend a penny when signing a new center-back then they should look no further than Marcos Senesi. The Bournemouth man is out of contract in the summer, and it seems he is ready to leave the Vitality.
The Reds’ transfer chiefs were keen to wait until the end of the season to move for Guehi because he was set to become a free agent. That’s no longer an option, but Senesi has proven to be one of the league’s most reliable defenders.
The Argentine has experience at the age of 28 and might be more open to rotating with Ibrahima Konate than the other potential targets. He has been vital to Andoni Iraola and has even contributed four assists in 20 league games this season.
Jan Paul van Hecke – Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion are always a tough team to face, and that’s largely thanks to their defensive solidity. Jan Paul van Hecke has been a key man at the Amex ever since arriving in the summer of 2020. He’s a towering centre-back at six-foot-two-inches, and that makes him a threat from set pieces.
Liverpool might be wary of doing business with Brighton, given that they usually get their way in negotiations at the highest possible price. That’s why Manchester United have yet to move for Carlos Baleba, valued at £100m+.
But former Premier League striker Troy Deeney thinks Van Hecke will be the next high-profile player to depart the Amex and that Anfield is the ideal destination. The 25-year-old has the character befitting of the Merseysiders and would offer much-needed competition for Konate.
Ben White – Arsenal
Mikel Arteta continues to strengthen Arsenal’s defence, which is statistically the best in Europe, and this has led to Ben White’s game time decreasing. The Englishman, who can also play at right-back, has appeared just five times in the league this season.
White has displayed his defensive ability ever since arriving at the Emirates, and he is a dream for managers thanks to his versatile profile. The 28-year-old might be weighing up his future, given he’s no longer a starter in the Gunners’ side.
Danny Murphy suggested Slot should consider moving for White when speaking to Boyle Sports: “Ben White to Liverpool would make sense, but Arsenal might not want to sell to a rival… I think that would be a good option for Liverpool.”
Liverpool could pounce for the former Brighton man in the summer, and Slot would be signing a player who knows all about title scraps. The Merseyside giants’ right-back position has been an issue this season, and White fixes both that problem and the setback of missing out on Guehi.
