Danny Murphy has showered praise on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi on talkSPORT, saying that he would be amazed if the defender doesn’t leave the club next summer.
The 23-year-old centre-back has progressed leaps and bounds in the past 18 months, and he is a key player for the Eagles.
Murphy has hailed him as a “real deal”, adding that he is a “Champions League level” player.
“He looks the real deal. I’d be amazed if he doesn’t leave in the summer. He’s a Champions League level player. Right now, he’s in the England XI,” said Murphy.
Perfect signing for Liverpool
The Reds were heavily linked with a move to sign Guehi during the summer, but the move didn’t materialize in the end. The Daily Mail reported (22 May) that the Reds showed an interest in signing him, but they probably didn’t pursue the deal after learning that he would cost around £50m.
Liverpool needed to bolster their defence during the summer, but they also had other priorities. In the end, Jurgen Klopp only focused on bolstering the midfield.
However, they need to bring in new players in defence next summer. Joel Matip has only a few months left on his current deal and chances are high that he won’t be given a new deal. Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate have struggled with injuries. Virgil van Dijk is still one of the best in the league, but the club must plan forward to find an ideal replacement for the 32-year-old from now on.
Guehi has made 1.4 tackles per game, which is better than Van Dijk who averages 1 tackle per game for Liverpool, as per Whoscored. He manages 4.9 clearances per game on average, which is more than what Matip has managed so far.
He is playing for the England national team, and his best years are ahead of him. He has a contract at Selhurst Park until 2026, and it will require a hefty transfer fee to lure him away.
