Liverpool move for defender even BETTER than Marc Guehi | OneFootball

Marc Guehi is very much on Liverpool's transfer radar but the Reds are moving for a centre-back who could be even better.

The England international came a hair's breath away from joining the club. If it wasn't for a last-minute decision, he'd be a Liverpool player.

Guehi himself had agreed everything with the Reds. He's got less than one year left on his contract now at Crystal Palace and after being so close to a move to Anfield, it feels inevitable that he'll end-up at the club when his contract expires.

But the key word is feels here. Nothing is concrete at the moment. Liverpool cannot strike a pre-agreement with him until the summer window unless they agree a transfer with with Palace in January.

We can't really see the Reds doing that considering they'd need to wait just six months to sign him on a free. Palace will want to drive his price up and ideally they would want Liverpool to bid but the Reds won't do that.

At this moment in time, it feels like Liverpool also don't necessarily have tunnel vision. Sure, they would like Guehi, but are there also alternative options in place?

Of course.

Could those options be even better than Guehi?

In some instances, yes.

One of those options is Ousmane Diomande. We've written about how he has become a priority target for Liverpool and it doesn't surprise us because the Ivorian centre-back is very, very good.

Diomande is both confident on the ball and makes a lot of progressive passes - in this area he may be even better than Guehi. But he's also a great defender.

Quick and able to read the game well, Diomande is strong and commanding, too. He's definitely stronger in the air than Guehi, winning over 66% of his aerial duels as opposed to Guehi who won less than 45% last season.

Only 21-years-old, Diomande is also several years younger compared to Guehi who is 25-years-old. It means he could reach an even higher ceiling in the coming years.

Of course, Liverpool will have to pay a fee for him but the fact that the club's scouts are keeping a close eye on him means that they are seriously considering this as an option.

Guehi would be a nice addition, Diomande could be even better. But given the future of Joe Gomez is uncertain and Ibrahima Konate has an expiring contract, Liverpool could get both.

Ultimately, that would not be a bad double deal for the Reds to replace the aforementioned duo. Diomande is definitely someone to keep a close eye on.