Arne Slot told transfer target 'fits everything Liverpool need' as club hero endorses move

Joel Ward says his former Crystal Palace team-mate, Marc Guehi, would be the perfect fit for Liverpool amid fresh reports linking the England defender with a move to Anfield.

Guehi, 25, is in the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and his future remains uncertain. Palace value the former Chelsea man at around £45million given his contract status and risk losing him for free next summer if they do not sell before the transfer window shuts.

Liverpool have spent just shy of £300m this summer and are now understood to be keen on adding a centre-back to their ranks before the transfer deadline next month.

Guehi is a player Liverpool have been keen on for the last year with his contract in south London running down.

And Ward, who played alongside Guehi for years at Palace before leaving earlier this summer, reckons it's a no-brainer for Liverpool to pursue a deal for his old team-mate.

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“You look at the player makeups that Liverpool have, they need someone who’s mobile and agile, and Marc fits everything they would need, whether it’s now or further down the line,” Ward told TNT Sports.

“Whoever gets him will be lucky to have Marc. He’s a top player, top guy, he’s a leader, so he offers you more than just the footballing side of things, he offers you so much more than that.

“He’s got his eyes set high, and the sky’s the limit for him. He’s an unbelievable guy and an unbelievable player.”

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Liverpool have just three recognised senior centre-backs on their books in Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez after selling Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen earlier this summer, though Gomez is currently injured.

Sunday's Community Shield showdown with Crystal Palace - which Ward was speaking ahead of - gave the Reds a chance to get an up close look at Guehi in action.

The match finished 2-2 after Palace plundered a late equaliser through Ismaila Sarr after goals from Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong had nudged Liverpool into a 2-1 lead. The Eagles won 3-2 on penalties, though, with Justin Devenny dispatching the winning spot-kick in style after misses from Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott.

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