Liverpool to target “outstanding” £50m ace after Guehi disaster

Liverpool spent £450m in the summer transfer window after winning the Premier League, but things have not gone as smoothly as hoped.

The Reds were riding an unbelievable high when Arne Slot led his squad to a title win in his debut season at the club, and that success was backed with heavy reinvestment during the summer.

Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni and Milos Kerkez were all brought in to become the next generation of success on the red side of Merseyside.

The attacking rebuild followed the departures of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, while the tragic loss of Diogo Jota devastated the football world, leaving Liverpool not only grieving the loss of a much-loved player but also without his attacking prowess in front of goal this season.

Although the summer recruitment drive was largely deemed a success, missing out on Marc Guehi after agreeing a deal with Crystal Palace on Deadline Day left Slot without experienced depth in his centre-back partnership.

It was hoped that Guehi would return to complete his move this month, but Manchester City swooped in to snap up his services last week.

Without making a firm attempt to reignite their interest, Liverpool have now missed out on their top target.

As a result, the future of the centre-back partnership remains a pressing concern for Liverpool, not only in the long term but also in the immediate, as defensive performances have been inconsistent and costly for the Premier League champions.

According to The Independent, Liverpool are now turning their attention to Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck.

The publication claims that Schlotterbeck has no interest in renewing his contract with the Bundesliga giants and would prefer a move away.

Liverpool have made the German one of their top targets alongside Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni and would need to pay around £50m to secure his signature.

There is no doubt that Liverpool need to address the long-term future of their centre-back partnership ahead of the summer to ensure they do not fall into another Guehi situation.

The club’s hierarchy have faced backlash for allowing the Crystal Palace skipper to slip through their fingers, particularly given Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation and the fact that Virgil van Dijk is entering the latter stages of his career.

However, Schlotterbeck represents more than a worthy alternative for the Reds, whether in the remaining days of the January transfer window or in the summer.

The talented 26-year-old – once hailed as “outstanding” by Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann – was one to watch at the Qatar World Cup in 2022, and that is unlikely to change as he eyes a place at the 2026 tournament in the United States.

Schlotterbeck is a proactive and aggressive defensive presence with exceptional ball-playing ability and, at 6 foot 2, poses a significant aerial threat in both boxes – something Guehi could not offer Liverpool at 5 foot 9.

Overall, the left-footed Germany international is a well-rounded defender with a wealth of experience who could significantly strengthen Liverpool’s backline and is comfortable operating on either side of a centre-back partnership.

At a reported £50m, it appears a logical investment for Liverpool to pursue Schlotterbeck.

The Dortmund ace represents not just a solution to an immediate problem, but a statement of intent for the future – one that addresses balance, experience and tactical flexibility at the heart of defence.

Whether Liverpool act now or wait until the summer, their next move in the centre-back market will be transformative in shaping the next phase of this volatile era at Anfield.

Rebekka Arnold is an experienced writer with a strong background in digital media, PR and football journalism.

Since 2021, Rebekka has written opinion pieces and match reaction content for Football Fancast, part of the Snack Media network, building on her growing presence in the football community through viral Twitter content and podcasting.

Now at Transfer Tavern, Rebekka brings her sharp eye for analysis and deep passion for the game to deliver engaging football opinion and breaking transfer news content.