The former Stewart Downing midfielder, who has just joined Liverpool as a global scout earlier this year, affirmed that midfielder Marc Guehi would likely arrive at Anfield as the latest in January.
Downing revealed Liverpool decided to take Marc Guhi to replace Van Dijk
According to Downing, he did not directly participate in the negotiation process but mainly undertake the detection and introduction of new factors. However, he believed that Marc Guehi would immediately bring a valuable addition to Virgil Van Dijk, before gradually inheriting the captain's armband from the Dutch midfielder himself. This deal can even pave the way for Ibrahima Konate to leave Anfield earlier than expected, in the context of his contract will expire in the next summer and no sign of extension.
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| Downing revealed Liverpool decided to take Marc Guhi to replace Van Dijk |
According to Saturday night report, Liverpool officially sent a £ 35 million offer to Crystal Palace to recruit Guehi. This is considered Palace's determination test in keeping people, as well as the ability to find alternatives in the urgent time. Like Konate, Guehi's contract will also maturity at the end of the season, meaning Palace is completely at risk of losing this center -back.
Sharing with Flashscore, Downing emphasizes: “Guehi in the immediate future will be a backup plan, but I believe that in a few years he will become a successor Van Dijk. I used to think Liverpool was able to sign with him in the previous summer. With Konate, the situation was really complicated. If he continued to refuse to renew, Liverpool was forced to consider selling. Or go right now, or in January. Guehi then decided to sell Konate to avoid losing white. ”
Downing also asks the question: “Does Konate really want to leave, or just using this situation to force a lucrative contract? I have a hunch that he will leave Liverpool, and Guehi is the perfect replacement. This price is not too expensive. I think the deal will happen, if not now it is January.”
Time is the biggest enemy. The Premier League transfer deadline this summer will end at 7pm on Monday (now he), earlier than every year instead of extending until midnight. Just a few hours slow, all agreements can be broken. Crystal Palace is said to want to entice Joe Gomez into the Guehi deal, but the Liverpool side is determined not to accept the British player to leave Anfield.