Richard Hughes puts FOUR more on centre-back shortlist alongside Marc Guehi | OneFootball

Liverpool are facing a centre-back shakeup over the next few transfer windows.

In actual fact, that process got underway during the summer transfer window - when Jarell Quansah left and Giovanni Leoni came through the door.

Quansah, 22, was acquired in a £30m deal by Bayer Leverkusen while 18-year-old Leoni was added from Parma for an initial £26m.

Things have taken a disastrous turn for the Italian however with an ACL injury on debut ruling him out for up to a year. Leoni has now undergone surgery on his injury but according to a report in talkSPORT the Reds are considering a new central defender in January.

Leoni injury could mean a January arrival

The injury to Leoni has left head coach Arne Slot with only Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez as senior fit options.

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The Reds are therefore only one more injury or a suspension away from a centre-back shortage. Marc Guehi is still of interest - with the Crystal Palace out of contract in 2026 - but it’s unlikely Liverpool will pay a fee for the England international in the new year.

But there are several other players on Liverpool’s list according to the report.

It mentions Levi Colwill - who has long been admired at Anfield - but the England defender is currently injured. And, besides, Liverpool recruiters are not convinced that the Blues’ stopper is a viable target.

Four names on Liverpool shortlist

“Internal discussions are currently taking place as to whether another centre-back is needed in January,” the report reads.

Nonetheless, four other defenders have made it onto Liverpool’s shortlist - although time will tell whether or not sporting director Richard Hughes pursues a deal for any of them.

“Sven Botman, Willian Pacho, Zeno Debast and Ousmane Diomande all scored strongly in Liverpool's data driven approach over the summer, but it remains to be seen whether any of the quartet become genuine targets in 2026 since no approach was made for any of the four over the summer,” the report continues.

© IMAGO - Marc Guehi Liverpool

Liverpool set for new centre-back in 2026

Botman, 25, joined Newcastle from Lille back in 2022 and is under contract at St. James’ Park until 2027. The ship may have sailed for Pacho however with the 23-year-old joining Paris Saint-Germain last summer from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Ecuardorian has been in and out of the PSG lineup so far this season but remains under contract at the Parc des Princes until 2029.

Then there’s Sporting’s Zeno Debast - who has gone from strength to strength since moving to Portugal from Anderlecht in 2024. The 21-year-old Belgian has got a contract until 2029.

Fellow 21-year-old Sporting teammate Diomande, meanwhile, has been on the list for quite a while. The Ivorian could be a more realistic target given his contract ends in 2027.

So Liverpool are certainly putting in some groundwork on centre-back deals - with Ibrahima Konate’s future up in the air and Van Dijk out of contract in 2027.