talkSPORT reports that Liverpool is considering making a move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi only if his transfer fee falls well below £45 million.

Liverpool have no plans to pay anywhere close to £45m-£50m, and there is still no guarantee discussions will advance.

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Liverpool are currently assessing whether Guehi is a genuine market opportunity.

Palace are open to a sale, knowing Guehi has no plans to sign a renewal and is into the final 12 months of his current contract.

Nevertheless, talkSPORT notes that Guehi is considering the option of seeing out the remainder of his current contract. Playing time is crucial for the England defender, especially with just a year to go before the 2026 World Cup.

Liverpool have Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, although the latter is into the final 12 months of his own deal.

Guehi would need to consider whether arriving at Anfield would see him become a starting centre-back instantly.

Liverpool is also eyeing other prospects. Sporting director Richard Hughes is mostly targeting players aged between 18 and 22, which makes Guehi an unusual choice among their defensive prospects.

Liverpool are inclined to bring in a defender who is Jarell Quansah’s age (22) or younger, unless a deal for Guehi is simply too strong not to proceed with.

There is appreciation for Jorrel Hato, which is shared by Chelsea and Arsenal.

Liverpool looked at then Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen earlier this summer, but soon realised he was prioritising Real Madrid once they entered the race.

Leny Yoro and Levi Colwill are also both historical targets.

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The former wanted immediate assurances of minutes, which Liverpool couldn’t guarantee, resulting in Manchester United securing his signature from Lille.

Liverpool are known not to over-promise simply to secure targets, believing an honest appraisal of pathways and minutes is key to building trust and developing players, especially young stars.

News of the Reds’ stance on Guehi comes as Quansah is poised to seal a move to Bayer Leverkusen for a total package of over €40million (£34m) including add-ons.

The centre-back will undergo his medical with the German club on Monday as the deal nears completion.

Liverpool have also inserted a buy-back clause into the transfer.

Leverkusen’s imminent purchase of Quansah will complete their long-standing interest in the defender, which pre-dated any discussions between the German side and Liverpool regarding Florian Wirtz’s transfer the other way.

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Quansah will head to Germany on the back of England’s Under-21 side enjoying back-to-back Euro U21 championships.

The centre-back played every minute of England’s triumphant campaign, which was sealed with a thrilling 3-2 extra-time win over Germany’s U21s on Saturday.

Quansah’s Reds career had prospered over the last two years following his professional debut for the club in August 2023.

He has been a regular in the matchday squads ever since then, and signed a new long-term contract in October.

Despite being a constant presence on matchdays, Quansah only registered 13 league appearances for a total of 488 minutes for the Reds last term.