Guehi To Liverpool? I’m Not Fully Sold

I’ve got no doubt a forward like Semenyo would land here and look right at home, but when it comes to Guehi I’m still hovering somewhere between “good option” and “not quite sure”. It’s not that he isn’t a player. It’s that I’m not ready to call him top level based on what we’ve seen so far.

In the here and now, you can definitely argue he’d be an upgrade on what we’ve had from Konate this season. That’s not a pot shot for the sake of it, it’s just watching the same things we all watch: timing, concentration, those little moments when a defender can make a situation bigger than it needs to be.

Solid now, but the ceiling question remains

This season, from the bits I’ve watched, Guehi has looked solid. Calm enough, usually in control of his body shape, and he doesn’t seem to panic when the ball gets played into awkward areas. That matters at Liverpool, because you’re asked to defend big spaces at times, and you don’t always get a second chance if you get your feet wrong.

But I can’t forget last season either, when the mistakes felt more regular. Not necessarily the headline-grabbing howlers, more the clumsy moments: stepping in when he didn’t need to, getting drawn under the ball, little lapses that turn a comfortable phase into a scramble. Maybe that’s part of development and maybe that’s exactly what he’s ironing out now. Still, it’s only halfway through this season. Clear improvement, yes. “Top player”? I’m not there yet.

Why I’d still take him

Even with those doubts, I’d still have him at Liverpool. We need a centre-back, and honestly you could make the case for two if you want the squad to feel properly rounded. Guehi wouldn’t be my first choice, but he’s very much on the list.

The other thing is attitude. He comes across grounded, like a good lad, and he looks focused on getting better rather than just coasting on reputation. That stuff isn’t fluffy. It’s how players handle pressure, competition and the reality that at Anfield you’re judged every three days.

Where the club can’t afford to stumble

What we can’t do is mess the deal up if the opportunity is there. If he’s out of contract in the summer, then the job is to get it done without overpaying. Simple. If you end up paying over the odds anyway, you’re basically repeating the same mistakes and acting surprised when it happens.

And if we let it slip and he ends up at City, that’s the bit that will sting. If a player actively wants to join you and you still can’t make it happen, something’s off. That’s where the spotlight lands on Hughes. Negotiation and timing are the job. If we’re not good at that, then why are we set up the way we are?

Written by Salah: 16 January 2026