Liverpool and spurs head to head for premier league star defender

Liverpool’s Defensive Hunt Intensifies Amid Guehi Setback

Liverpool’s search for defensive reinforcements is gathering momentum after another setback in their backline. Anfield Watch has reported that the club, already hampered by Giovanni Leoni’s long-term injury, are now locked in a two-way battle with Tottenham Hotspur for not just Marc Guehi, but also another Premier League captain, Nathan Collins.

The injury to 18-year-old Leoni has left Liverpool relying solely on Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez as their only senior fit centre-backs. The £26 million signing from Parma suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear on his debut and will be sidelined for a year, a blow that has forced the club’s transfer strategy back under the microscope.

Guehi pursuit leaves questions over recruitment

The club’s failure to secure Marc Guehi on deadline day has created frustration. Liverpool offered an initial £35 million for the Crystal Palace captain, but the bid was turned down due to Palace being unable to source a replacement. With Guehi’s contract set to expire in 2026, his availability is expected to spark major competition.

“Liverpool offered an initial £35m for the Crystal Palace captain which was turned down because the FA Cup holders could not source a replacement,” as reported by Anfield Watch.

Tottenham are already mooted as another serious contender for the England international. This raises questions about whether Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director, left the club short by not pushing harder during the summer window. With Van Dijk ageing and Konate often battling fitness concerns, depth at centre-back feels perilously thin for a side aiming to retain their Premier League crown.

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Collins emerges as next Brentford export

Attention has now turned towards Nathan Collins of Brentford. The 24-year-old, signed from Wolves for £24 million in 2023, has blossomed into the club’s captain under new manager Keith Andrews. He completed every minute of last season’s Premier League campaign and is under contract until 2029.

“They [Brentford] don’t want to lose Nathan Collins,” a report reads. “There was a bit of interest in the summer from Tottenham. Liverpool were mentioned as well as they were looking at a centre-back.”

Brentford have developed a reputation for commanding premium fees for their best players, with Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa all regularly linked with moves away. Collins, who has 32 caps for Ireland and two goals, may soon follow in that tradition, attracting heavyweight interest from clubs higher up the table.

Spurs provide unwelcome competition

Tottenham’s involvement complicates Liverpool’s pursuit further. Their head coach, Thomas Frank, knows Collins well from his time in charge at Brentford and is said to retain a strong admiration for his development. Liverpool’s recruiters, however, have also added the Irishman to their database, with some reports suggesting that 2026 could be the year Collins makes a move to Anfield.

“If he continues to impress for Brentford and as he’s shown already at such a young age, he’s got those leadership qualities as well, being captain at the club, I’m sure there’ll be clubs monitoring the situation and maybe in the summertime there could be further interest in him,” one analysis observed.

For Liverpool, Collins would represent both a long-term investment and a reinforcement for an area of the squad left threadbare by injuries and missteps in the transfer market. The competition from Spurs, however, ensures that this will not be a straightforward chase.

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Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, the current situation feels frustratingly familiar. Defensive shortages have haunted the club in the past, most notably during the 2020-21 campaign when injuries decimated the squad. Supporters had hoped lessons had been learned, yet this summer’s failure to secure Marc Guehi has left Richard Hughes open to scrutiny.

The injury to Giovanni Leoni is deeply unfortunate, especially for such a promising young player, but Liverpool needed to anticipate risk and have greater cover. Relying on Van Dijk, Konate and Gomez for an entire campaign feels optimistic at best and reckless at worst. All three have had their own fitness struggles, and the lack of depth looks particularly dangerous in a season where the team is expected to challenge across multiple competitions.

Nathan Collins would be a shrewd acquisition. He has shown durability, consistency and leadership qualities at Brentford, attributes that Liverpool’s backline could badly use. However, with Tottenham in the frame, the fear is that Liverpool may again be too slow or too cautious in the market. The club cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of previous windows where hesitation cost them key targets.

For supporters, the message is clear. Liverpool need decisive action in January to strengthen the heart of their defence. Waiting until summer could be too late in the context of a Premier League title race and Champions League campaign. With Guehi and Collins both in the mix, it is time for the recruitment team to deliver.