Liverpool nears £35m Marc Guehi transfer talks with Crystal Palace

Liverpool is actively seeking to strengthen its central defense this transfer window by pursuing Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi and Parma's Giovanni Leoni. Guehi, who has a year left on his contract and no intention to renew, is keen to join Liverpool to play Champions League football, with talks between the two clubs progressing, potentially for a fee around £30-35 million plus add-ons, which is significantly lower than the initial asking price of up to £65 million. Palace chairman Steve Parish has acknowledged the likelihood of Guehi's sale to avoid losing him on a free transfer next year but hopes for a resolution either through a new contract or transfer. Liverpool's urgency stems from recent defensive departures, including Jarell Quansah's sale to Bayer Leverkusen and Joe Gomez's injury, leaving Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as the only senior fit center-backs. Leoni, an 18-year-old Italy under-19 international from Parma, is also a target but has yet to decide on a move from Italy, with Liverpool viewing him as a promising long-term addition. Overall, Liverpool aims to bolster their defense depth before the transfer window closes amid competition and financial considerations.