Marc Guehi's perfect Liverpool shirt number vacant after £27m star's exit

Marc Guehi could be set to be handed his favourite shirt number at Liverpool if they are successful in their pursuit of the Crystal Palace captain. The Reds are hoping to make the central defender their seventh new arrival of the summer after a busy start to the transfer window.

The Premier League champions have already signed marauding wing-back Jeremie Frimpong, creative midfielder Florian Wirtz, left-back Milos Kerkez and goalkeepers Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi and Freddie Woodman. They are now closing in on a move for Guehi, who has a year left on his Palace contract.

Guehi has been linked with several Premier League sides since it became clear that the England international will not extend his contract at Selhurst Park.

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But Mirror Football understands that Liverpool are the frontrunners to secure his signature, with talks between all the relevant parties taking place this weekend.

The deal is still not agreed, however. Palace value their centre-back at £70million, and it is unlikely that the Reds will match that with only 12 months left on his deal.

And Guehi will still need to be convinced that he will be a regular starter, with Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk providing stiff competition.

Yet, they can at least offer him his preferred shirt number - No. 6 - which is currently not worn by anyone in the squad.

Guehi has worn the number since he signed for Palace in 2021/22, though he has a history of embracing different numbers in the past, having worn No. 5 and 2 at Swansea City, as well as No. 4, 44, 53 and 16 in his youth team days.

The No. 6 at Liverpool has been vacant since Thiago Alcantara, who Liverpool signed for £27m in 2020, left last summer to retire at the end of his contract, aged just 33. Prior to Thiago, the likes of Dejan Lovren, Fabio Aurelio and John Arne Riise had worn the jersey.

The signing of Guehi would take Liverpool’s total summer spending, including money for add-ons, towards the £250m mark. Sporting director Richard Hughes and Arne Slot have acted decisively so far, recognising the need to revamp the squad.

Last summer saw newly-appointed head coach Slot only sign one outfield player - Federico Chiesa - which gave him an entire season to assess which parts of his squad needed further attention.

It was a huge bonus that he ended up winning the league comfortably in his maiden campaign in England, with the Reds now showing their intent through the transfer market.

The arrival of Guehi would also represent a major coup, given his international pedigree and the interest of Newcastle and Tottenham.

Palace are expected to hold out for a fee of at least £40m, especially as Chelsea have a 20 per cent sell-on clause when they sold Guehi to Palace for £18m in 2021.

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