Liverpool push Guéhi bid and United pursue Baleba

Liverpool are advancing talks for Marc Guéhi with Crystal Palace and are considering Giovanni Leoni, while Manchester United chase Carlos Baleba for a potential record deal.

Liverpool push Guéhi bid and United pursue Baleba

Liverpool have moved to deepen talks with Crystal Palace over Marc Guéhi, aiming to seal a deal around £35m as the defender enters the final year of his contract. Palace signaled openness to selling rather than losing him for nothing next summer after enjoying bids worth up to £70m from Newcastle last year. The window has seen limited progress on a price that satisfies both sides, but negotiations are described as continuing smoothly. In parallel, Liverpool are eyeing Parma centre back Giovanni Leoni, an 18 year old on the rise who impressed in the second half of last season and is viewed as one of Europe’s best defensive prospects. Inter are also monitoring Leoni, though Liverpool have the financial clout to push ahead, and they may press the youngster to consider a move before he makes a final choice. With Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté the only established options available for Friday’s league opener, Liverpool are keen to widen their options in central defense after selling Jarell Quansah and dealing with Joe Gomez’s injury absence. Manchester United, meanwhile, are exploring a move for Carlos Baleba. The Cameroon midfielder, 21, could command a price well beyond the £72m Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pépé in 2019 if Brighton allow a sale, though sources say a deal would require players to move first. Baleba wants a big-stage career and has publicly expressed a desire to be a legend across the world; Brighton have indicated they are not selling, making United’ s task a delicate balancing act. Brighton’s chief executive Paul Barber cautioned that United have not yet been in touch, while stressing Baleba’s potential and the need for flexibility in the market. West Ham and Southampton are also active in midfield talks, but the biggest hurdle remains the price tag attached to Baleba and the need to offload players at United to fund multiple arrivals.

The summer transfer window is revealing a market where youth talent carries record price expectations. Clubs balance short term needs with long term finances, often tying deals to performance incentives and contract length. Liverpool face a delicate act: securing a durable defensive spine without locking in too much risk if Guéhi’s value spikes or contract room becomes a problem later. Intermediaries and agents are pushing values higher, while clubs like Brighton stand firm on their asset’s value, showing how player power is reshaping negotiation dynamics. United enter a similar tightrope: fund new arrivals only after pruning wages and non target players, highlighting the strain of a crowded squad and the premium placed on players who can immediately elevate results.

Highlights

Transfer markets feel like a test of patience and purse strings alike