Liverpool walk away as Saudi bid hijacks defensive target | OneFootball

Saudi Cash Forces Liverpool to Rethink Quansah Replacement

Defensive rebuild faces early setback

Liverpool’s search for a successor to Jarell Quansah has been dealt a harsh reminder of football’s new financial reality. TBR Football reports that the Reds have pulled out of a move for Nantes centre-back Nathan Zeze after Saudi Pro League newcomers Neom SC tabled a “huge offer” that left both Liverpool and Bournemouth unwilling to compete.

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Zeze, a France Under-21 international with bags of promise, had been monitored by Liverpool for months. Conversations were held with the player’s entourage and there was a clear willingness from Anfield to act decisively. But as one source put it, “Neom are making waves following their promotion, but this deal has caught many in Europe by surprise.”

Saudi influence grows on transfer market

The €25 million deal struck with Nantes wasn’t beyond Liverpool’s reach. It was the terms on offer to the player that proved decisive. That is the power now wielded by Saudi clubs. Not every offer is headline-grabbing in pure monetary value, but the growing influence of the league is shaping the paths of top European talent.

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Zeze was on the cusp of a move to England or Spain. Instead, he heads to a league still building its footballing credibility, lured by a package English clubs won’t touch. In a summer where Liverpool need to add steel to their back line, that is a frustrating reality.

Liverpool’s defensive dilemma

Virgil van Dijk is nearing the twilight of his career, Ibrahima Konaté is yet to commit to a new deal, and Joe Gomez’s long-standing fitness issues remain a concern. Selling Quansah without a ready-made replacement was a gamble, even if the club still has its eyes on other targets.

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TBR Football reports that Liverpool remain keen on Marc Guehi, a long-term target admired within the corridors of Kirkby. Yet Palace will not be bullied on price. Despite the England international having just 12 months left on his deal, Steve Parish is prepared to risk losing him on a free next year.

That puts pressure on the recruitment team. Guehi is not the type of deal that gets wrapped up quickly or cheaply.

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Long summer ahead at Anfield

Liverpool’s defensive rebuild under Arne Slot has started with strong intentions, but early attempts to land key targets are being tested by inflated markets and external forces. If the club want to remain competitive at the top end of the Premier League, they will need to act smart and fast.

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Letting Quansah go without a concrete replacement signed was a risk. The squad already had question marks over depth and durability at the back. Van Dijk may still read the game better than most, but the pace and physicality aren’t what they once were. Konaté stalling on a new contract feels like a red flag waving in slow motion, while Gomez, despite his versatility, cannot be relied upon to play 30 games a season.

Marc Guehi feels like a logical move, but when have Palace ever sold someone easily? If the club are serious about avoiding last season’s defensive wobble repeating itself, they have to be proactive. It is no use waiting until two days before deadline day.

Saudi clubs are setting the tempo now, and if Liverpool don’t match the rhythm, with ambition and decisiveness, they’ll find themselves scrambling for answers once again.