Crystal Palace have reportedly set a new price tag for Marc Guehi as Liverpool step up their interest in the England star.
Following their Premier League triumph, Liverpool have been splashing the cash this summer, bringing in Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong for just shy of £200million.
They could yet sign a striker but their priority is to bring in a new centre-back with England U21 star Jarell Quansah set to join Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £35m.
The situation is somewhat pressing as Arne Slot only has three senior centre-backs, namely Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate, with the latter out of contract next summer and talks over a new deal not progressing.
Guehi has emerged as their top target after captaining Palace to their best ever Premier League season and FA Cup glory in 2024/25 and, according to the Mirror, the Reds will open talks with the Eagles and the player this weekend.
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Arsenal are also interested in the 24-year-old who has entered the last 12 months of his contract and was the subject of big money bids from Newcastle and Tottenham last season
The Magpies failed to meet Palace’s £70m valuation last summer and while Spurs did, their offer came far too late in the January window to be considered.
While it is said Guehi is willing to run down his deal if a prospective buyer does not guarantee regular first-team football, Palace do not wish to lose such a valuable asset on a free transfer.
The report adds that Oliver Glasner’s side still value the defender at £70m but know that no club will bid that given his contract situation.
As a result they now want at least £40m but will hold out for as much as possible given that Chelsea have a 20 per cent sell-on clause in his contract.
The Blues sold their academy graduate to Palace in 2021 for £18m and have been linked with re-signing him in the past, but their interest has cooled of late.
If Guehi does move to Anfield his first game for his new club will, ironically, be against his old one, with Liverpool taking on Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on August 10.
The south Londoners are also bracing themselves for Arsenal or Tottenham to make a bid for talisman Eberechi Eze, who has a £68million release clause.
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