Arne Slot admits Liverpool were actually really close to signing ‘brilliant’ player this summer

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Liverpool were extremely busy during the summer transfer window.

The Reds spent over £400million trying to improve their first-team squad and, even though their team is better on paper, they’ll have a lot of gelling to do among the squad.

Indeed, they have managed to add nine points to their Premier League tally at the moment, but with how gruelling the season is set to get from here on in, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the odd slip-up here and there.

Although the Reds got most of their transfer targets through the Anfield doors this summer, there was one that just escaped the grasp of Arne Slot and Richard Hughes.

Arne Slot admits that it would be ‘ridiculous’ for him to play down how close Liverpool were to signing Marc Guehi

One of Liverpool’s main targets towards the end of the window was Marc Guehi.

The centre-back was available for a cut-rate fee due to him only having a year left on his current deal with Crystal Palace.

And, although the Reds were allowed to conduct a medical for Guehi’s move, Palace ended up pulling out in the dying embers of the window.

Slot, while speaking in his pre-Burnley press conference, shared an insight into how close Liverpool actually were to getting a deal over the line.

“It would be ridiculous for me to deny that we were close to signing him,” he said.

“It happens in football. For me, we would like to sign him (in the future) of course because we were in for him. If we can strengthen the team, we never hesitate to do so.”

Liverpool must try and sign Marc Guehi before another team comes in for him

Now that Liverpool don’t have a free run at signing Guehi, they’re likely to face competition for his transfer.

We know that in previous windows, Newcastle have been interested in acquiring his services.

However, now that he’s available for free, clubs such as Real Madrid have also had their interest piqued in the centre-back.

This means that, not only will Liverpool likely have to offer him more money to convince him to join, but they’ll also have to prove that they can be as dominant as they were last term.

If they can’t do this, there’s no stopping Guehi from choosing to go elsewhere, that is, especially if Ibrahima Konate ends up staying.

At the moment, it’s anyone’s guess what could happen, but for now, it still seems like the Reds are interested in signing the Englishman.

On the face of things, this is very good news for Liverpool, especially since Thomas Tuchel has praised the defender for having a “brilliant attitude.”