VVD Successor: Liverpool Leading the Race to Sign £50m Marc Guehi Alternative – Report
Liverpool’s summer transfer window has been uneventful, at least for the supporters. While the excitement of international tournaments has captured fans worldwide, Anfield has shown little activity in the market.
Arne Slot is now familiar with his surroundings on Merseyside, yet the club’s new head coach has not welcomed any new players. Instead, he has been focusing on integrating his playing style into the existing squad.
Sporting director Richard Hughes has assured that there will be signings this summer, but they will come later. FSG’s new structure aims to identify key areas needing reinforcements before making any additions.
It is evident that central defence is a concern, with reports indicating that Liverpool is gearing up for the 2024/25 season.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool’s captain and described by Michael Owen as “the best centre-back of all-time,” has recently turned 33 and is in the final year of his £220k-per-week contract.
According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are leading the race to sign Sporting Lisbon centre-back Goncalo Inacio. The 22-year-old has been identified as the ideal successor to Van Dijk.
Inacio has a €60m (£50m) release clause in his contract, but there is a growing belief at Liverpool that this figure could be negotiated down.
Arsenal and Manchester United also admire the Portugal international, but recent developments have positioned Liverpool as the clear frontrunners.
Liverpool have admired Inacio’s dynamic defensive skills for a long time. Last summer, Jurgen Klopp made a strong push for a deal, but Inacio opted to stay in his homeland to continue his development.
Smart decision. Inacio played a key role in Ruben Amorim’s second Liga Portugal victory with Sporting and has continued to refine his abilities in preparation for a potential move to the Premier League.
Analysing his statistics against center-backs in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, it is evident that Inacio is in the top 4% for passes attempted, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 9% for progressive passes, the top 1% for successful take-ons, and the top 5% for blocks per 90 minutes, according to FBref.
His style of play differs significantly from Van Dijk, who is known for his calm and commanding defensive approach, and also from Marc Guehi, who shone for England at the Euros this summer and is another top target for Liverpool.
There are reports indicating that Liverpool have a strong interest in the Crystal Palace center-back, who would likely require a fee of around £65 million to secure his transfer from Selhurst Park.
| Marc Guehi: Euro 2024 Stats | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | # |
| Matches played | 6 |
| Matches started | 6 |
| Clean sheets | 2 |
| Pass completion | 94% |
| Touches per game | 82.8 |
| Tackles per game | 0.5 |
| Interceptions per game | 0.3 |
| Clearances per game | 2.0 |
| Ball recoveries per game | 4.7 |
| Ground duels won per game | 1.8 (61%) |
| Stats Source: Sofascore | |
Last season, he played in a more defensive Eagles system under Roy Hodgson and missed much of Robert Glasner’s successful beginning as manager due to injury. Despite this, Palace reporter Bobby Manzi praised him as a “monster” of a defender for his performances.
His quality is unquestionable, and his success at Anfield seems likely. However, Slot’s system is transforming the club, focusing more on ball retention and calculated, yet still fluid, progression.
In this respect, few are better than Inacio, who talent scout Jacek Kulig described as a “sensation” for his modern skillset. Journalist Antonio Mango also commended him for his “insane” range of passing.
Guehi demonstrated with the Three Lions that he has the technical ability and strong defensive game to succeed at a top team like Liverpool. However, Inacio might be a better fit, especially playing alongside the formidable Ibrahima Konate or the imposing rising star Jarell Quansah.
| 23/24 Comparison: Marc Guehi vs Goncalo Inacio | ||
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | Marc Guehi | Goncalo Inacio |
| Matches played | 25 | 32 |
| Matches started | 23 | 28 |
| Clean sheets | 4 | 13 |
| Pass completion | 87% | 89% |
| Touches per game | 61.6 | 84.4 |
| Tackles per game | 1.1 | 1.5 |
| Interceptions per game | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Clearances per game | 3.5 | 1.9 |
| Ball recoveries per game | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Duels won per game | 3.6 (60%) | 4.0 (54%) |
| Stats Source: Sofascore | ||
He’s even left-footed, making him an ideal replacement for Van Dijk on the left. Guehi, although skilled on the left side of central defense, is naturally right-footed. Analyst Ben Mattinson notes that Guehi is versatile and can play on both sides equally well, but he lacks the ability to deliver progressive passes as effectively as his Portuguese counterpart.
Moreover, Guehi is not known for his progressive passing. Last season, he ranked poorly in this area for Palace and showed little improvement for his national team. At the Euros, he was among the bottom 46% of defenders for progressive passes and the bottom 18% for shot-creating actions per 90 minutes. However, he did contribute with a crucial flick-on for Jude Bellingham’s impressive scissor kick against Slovakia in the round of 16.
Considering that Inacio would likely be a more cost-effective acquisition, his signing should be the priority in the coming weeks. Both Guehi and Inacio are promising young defenders, but securing Inacio, who fits perfectly into Slot’s system, could be crucial for long-term success.
In other Liverpool news, Liverpool Think £38m Player is “Very Talented” and Could Move to Sign Him – Fabrizio Romano
