Liverpool’s Defensive Pursuits: The Guehi Situation and Alternative Targets

For months, Liverpool has been optimistic about acquiring Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, a player deemed essential for the club’s long-term defensive overhaul. Reports indicated that Guehi had settled on personal terms and completed initial stages of his medical evaluation. The transfer appeared imminent until Palace unexpectedly halted the transaction, citing their inability to secure a replacement prior to the deadline. Despite Liverpool submitting the necessary paperwork on time, Palace’s refusal to finalize the deal left the Merseyside club in a difficult predicament.

In response, Liverpool signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for approximately £26 million, but his season-ending ACL injury has further complicated their defensive situation. The failure to secure Guehi has forced Liverpool into a season characterized by a reliance on a smaller and more fragile pool of centre-backs, with club captain Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Joe Gomez as the only available options.

According to the Daily Mail, Guehi remains on Liverpool’s radar; however, no significant progress has been made toward reviving the transfer for January. The club has begun exploring alternative targets, including Joel Ordoñez from Club Brugge, who has garnered attention from Liverpool scouts due to his physicality and tactical acumen. The Ecuadorian defender has quickly ascended in Belgium and is recognized by various clubs as possessing the potential to evolve into a leading modern centre-back. Notably, he is not the only Ordoñez being considered by Liverpool.

Deinner Ordonez, a promising talent from Independiente del Valle—the renowned Ecuadorian academy known for producing players like Moises Caicedo and Piero Hincapie—is also under watch. While he is seen as a long-term investment rather than an immediate first-team option, youth scouts have privately lauded him as potentially the standout player in his age group across South America.

Liverpool’s chances of acquiring Guehi may have improved recently after Real Madrid effectively withdrew from negotiations. According to Spanish outlet AS, Guehi’s salary expectations and signing bonus demands have rendered the transfer “virtually impossible” for the Spanish club. With just over six months remaining on his contract and having declined multiple renewal offers, Guehi is widely anticipated to leave Selhurst Park at the end of the season. Palace, while resigned to losing their captain, intends to avoid accepting a reduced January fee, suggesting that the player is likely to depart for free next summer.

Real Madrid had been considering Guehi as a potential long-term addition to their defense, especially with both David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger expected to exit the club by 2026. The Spanish giants were impressed by Guehi’s consistent performances in the Premier League and his experience with the England national team. However, the demands from Guehi’s camp for a significant salary increase and a substantial signing bonus conflicted with Madrid’s strict financial policies.

The exit of Real Madrid from the chase positions Liverpool and Bayern Munich as the leading candidates for the England international. Barcelona has also emerged as a serious contender, given their ability to negotiate a pre-agreement with Guehi in January, providing them with a strategic advantage. Should Liverpool fail once more in their pursuit of Guehi, the club will need to redirect its attention to other elite defensive options. Players like Alessandro Bastoni, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Willian Pacho are all under consideration, though each presents a more challenging and costly acquisition. Having already spent £446 million—the highest amount ever by a Premier League club in a single transfer window—last summer, it remains uncertain whether Liverpool will invest heavily again in 2026.