Liverpool targets Guehi and Baleba update

Liverpool pursue defensive options by talking with Palace over Guehi and weighing Parma defender Leoni as Manchester United weighs up Baleba.

Liverpool tightens defense with Guehi link and Leoni pursuit while United chase Baleba

Liverpool have opened talks with Crystal Palace over Marc Guehi and are weighing a move for Parma centre back Giovanni Leoni as they seek to strengthen Arne Slot's defence. Leoni, 18, made 17 appearances for Parma last season and has drawn interest from several Serie A clubs, including Inter. Liverpool are ready to push for Leoni if he signals openness to leaving Italy, though they have not yet approached Parma. Guehi remains the primary target, with Palace chair Steve Parish acknowledging a sale could be preferable to losing him for nothing and a price around £35m being discussed. On the injury front, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are the only established centre backs available for Friday's Premier League opener against Bournemouth, with Jarell Quansah sold to Bayer Leverkusen and Joe Gomez missing pre-season with a minor Achilles issue.

Manchester United are exploring a bid for Carlos Baleba as a long-term solution in midfield. A move would require a significant transfer fee given Brighton see him as one of the best emerging talents and have not formally opened talks. Baleba has expressed a desire to be a legend across the world and is reportedly keen to join United if terms can be agreed. Brighton have indicated the price could exceed the £72m paid for Nicolas Pépé in 2019, with some estimates suggesting it could surpass £100m, especially for a player with three years on his contract and a Brighton option to extend.

The two clubs are showing how the transfer market is shifting from quick fixes to long-term structural bets. Liverpool want to pair Guehi’s top-level experience with Leoni’s youth and potential, signaling a strategy to build a spine that lasts beyond one season. The price signals around Guehi, and the appetite for Leoni, reflect a market where depth at centre back is prized and young players are valued highly.

United’s push for Baleba highlights a different bet: pay big now for a young midfielder who could grow into a cornerstone, even as the club balances wage costs and potential departures. Brighton’s stance underscores the leverage owners can hold when a player is under contract and not clearly available. Together, these moves illustrate a window where market inflation, squad needs, and owner strategy collide, forcing clubs to mix short-term fixes with longer-term scouting bets.

Highlights

Transfer chatter will continue to shape how teams balance short term needs with long term plans.