A No-Brainer Signing: Why Liverpool Must Land Marc Guehi

With the sale of Jarrell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen finalised on 2 July, Liverpool have accelerated their pursuit of defender Marc Guehi—but is it a smart signing? 

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The 24-year-old has become one of the Premier League's most consistent defenders since making his league debut for the Eagles in the opening game of the 2021/22 campaign against Chelsea, amassing 132 top-flight appearances since then.

Guehi also played a huge part last season, when Crystal Palace lifted their first-ever major trophy by beating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final.

His arrival at Liverpool would likely see him compete with Frenchman Ibrahima Konate for a spot alongside Reds captain Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.

How Konate and Guehi compare

Using Squawka's comparison tool, powered by Opta, we assessed how Guehi and Konate performed in the Premier League last season.

Guehi clocked up 3,059 minutes across 34 appearances, compared to Konate's 31 games and 2,565 minutes.

Since joining Liverpool, Konate has developed a worrying injury record, suffering seven different injuries—including one last season that kept him out for 34 days. In contrast, Guehi has remained largely injury-free, a level of durability Arne Slot may prefer as he looks to ensure stability and consistency in defence.

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The Palace defender also outperformed Konate in interceptions—a key metric for a centre-back in a pressing system like Liverpool's. Last season, Guehi made 28 interceptions, demonstrating a strong ability to anticipate and disrupt passes early, while Konate registered just 17.

The Englishman also led in tackles made, ground duels won, clearances, blocked shots, and ball recoveries.

However, Guehi's aerial duel success rate of just 53.91% raises concerns, especially when compared to Konate's impressive 70.75%.

On the ball, Konate holds an advantage, losing possession only 199 times last season compared to Guehi's 331.

How Guehi eases Liverpool's homegrown problem

In the Premier League, clubs can register a squad of up to 25 players each season, with at least eight required to be homegrown.

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A homegrown player is defined by the Premier League as someone who, regardless of nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for at least three full seasons—or 36 months—before their 21st birthday (or before the end of the season in which they turn 21).

Players under 21 do not need to be included in the 25-man squad and remain eligible to play in the Premier League at any time.

With Quansah's departure from Merseyside, Liverpool have lost four homegrown players this summer, leaving them with just seven. Potential exits for Harvey Elliott and Tyler Morton, both seeking more game time, could reduce that number to five—three short of the Premier League's requirement.

The signing of Marc Guehi, a product of Chelsea's youth system, could help ease that shortage. The defender was part of the England squad that won the U17 World Cup in 2017 and has since made 23 appearances for the senior national team.

A no-brainer for Slot

Marc Guehi represents a rare opportunity for Liverpool to secure a proven Premier League centre-back at a cut-price fee. The defender only has one year remaining on his Crystal Palace contract, which means the Reds could bring him in for as little as £35 million—a figure that looks increasingly like a bargain in today's inflated transfer market.

A deal of this calibre doesn't come around often, especially when it comes to homegrown defenders with Guehi's combination of consistency, maturity, top-flight experience, and age.

Still only 24, he already has over 130 Premier League appearances under his belt and played a pivotal role in Crystal Palace's historic FA Cup triumph last season.

While there is room for improvement in his aerial duels, his all-round defensive qualities—tackling, positioning, anticipation—and leadership on the pitch make him an intelligent, long-term addition. Not only could Guehi provide stability now, but he also has the potential to anchor Liverpool's defence for years to come.

In a market with limited high-quality defensive options, he stands out as one of the best available signings both in terms of value and fit.