Flashscore sources indicate that Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Micky van de Ven is one of the key names on Liverpool’s shortlist.
City’s move for Guehi marked a dramatic moment in the transfer market, as they finalised a fee and personal terms and now wait to complete the deal.
We had revealed on Flashscore on Monday how a move for Guehi had been in the works and was likely to reach a conclusion before the weekend - a prediction that proved accurate.
City stepped up concrete discussions on Thursday and quickly wrapped up an initial £20 million agreement for the England international.
While the bargain transfer fee appears attractive, sources suggest Liverpool’s reluctance to enter the race went beyond the headline figure.
Personal terms were always expected to be a significant obstacle, with Guehi set for a contract worth close to £300,000 per week at the Etihad - a level of salary Liverpool were unwilling to commit to.
In addition, the Reds were firm in their stance that they would not pay a fee for the defender during the January window.
Liverpool’s preference was to wait until the summer, when Guehi could have been available as a free agent, a position that ultimately ruled them out of contention despite their long-standing admiration for the 25-year-old.
Liverpool’s decision not to push for Guehi - having previously attempted to sign him last summer for around £35 million - has led to intrigue over what they now plan to do in the position.
Defensive reinforcements remain a clear priority, particularly with Ibrahima Konate’s future still unresolved and his contract situation yet to reach a breakthrough.
Liverpool have been actively assessing alternatives across both the Premier League and Europe and Flashscore understands that Van de Ven is high on their list, with the Dutch international viewed as an excellent stylistic fit.
The 24-year-old Netherlands international is yet to commit to a new deal at Tottenham, a situation Liverpool have been monitoring closely as they plan for the next stage of their squad rebuild.
He is now expected to be the player they pursue in order to discover more clearly whether a breakthrough can be made, even though it would be more likely to be a summer transfer.
The Spurs man is not the only name under consideration as Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck and Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni have been mentioned as targets, while Brighton’s Jan Paul Van Hecke, Brentford’s Nathan Collins and Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi are also understood to be among the players on Liverpool’s radar.
