Liverpool urged to re-sign former player and target Man City star if they miss out on Marc Guehi

Stephane Henchoz thinks Liverpool should make moves for Manuel Akanji and Harry Wilson

Stephane Henchoz thinks Liverpool should turn to Man City defender Manuel Akanji if they miss out on Marc Guehi, and has urged the Reds to bolster their attacking options by re-signing one former player. Arne Slot’s side are currently short on defensive options, with Conor Bradley the latest star to be struck down by injury.

The Northern Ireland international was stretchered off in Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal, with Slot admitting after the final whistle that he feared the worse for the right-back.

Should Bradley be set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines, the Reds would be left with Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez as their senior options at right-back.

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However, the Dutchman has been utilised further forward in recent weeks in the absence of Mohamed Salah, who is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

While the Egyptian will return to Merseyside later this month, Liverpool are still stretched at the back with Gomez also the only senior cover Slot boasts for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate after Giovanni Leoni suffered an ACL injury on his Reds debut back in September.

Liverpool would have avoided such a dilemma had Crystal Palace not blocked a £35m move for Marc Guehi at the 11th hour on transfer deadline day last summer.

The Reds remain interested in the England international, who will be available on a free transfer at the end of the season. However, he is set to have his pick of the suitors if he does depart on a Bosman transfer, while Man City are reportedly weighing up a mid-season move for the defender after losing both Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias to injury.

Henchoz insists Liverpool would be the right move for Guehi, urging the Palace captain to snub interest from the likes of Real Madrid in order to make a move to Anfield.

However, if the Reds did miss out on the 25-year-old, the former Switzerland international thinks his old club should turn their attention to Akanji – who is currently on loan at Inter Milan – and make a move for the Man City defender instead.

“When Real Madrid come in for you, it’s hard to turn down,” he told Haiper. “That will be the same for Marc Guehi. It’s quite normal; they’re probably one of the best clubs, if not the best club, in history, the name, the shirt, everything.

“Sometimes players have to think, ‘What’s the best decision for me? What is the context? What’s the style of play?’

“Okay, the name Real Madrid is one thing. Liverpool is also a great club, and I think you want to play in the Premier League. For me, the Spanish league is good, and okay, you play the Champions League with Real.

“But if you leave Crystal Palace, coming to Liverpool is the right choice, you can still go to Real, Barcelona or Bayern Munich after.

“At this stage of his career, leaving Crystal Palace for Liverpool is definitely a great option.”

He continued: “Liverpool did want to add one more centre-back. They couldn’t sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, it didn’t work.

“But I thought it was a bit strange that they didn’t maybe have a plan B or C and still be able to sign one more player.

“Manuel Akanji would be an interesting option for Liverpool. He has proven his ability in the Premier League with Manchester City, despite a slightly difficult last season due to injury.

“He is 30, which is not old for a centre-back, and he has a good injury record. I have watched him playing for Inter Milan and the Swiss national team since he left City, and he still has the necessary attributes.

“He possesses everything you want in a centre-back: pace, power, intelligence, good reading of the game, and comfort in possession.

“Crucially, he knows the Premier League, which is a big advantage for a January transfer. When signing a player in the winter window, you need someone who can fit in and perform immediately. Akanji meets those needs.

“Therefore, if Liverpool cannot secure their first-choice target, Akanji would definitely be an interesting alternative.”

Meanwhile, Akanji is not the only player Henchoz thinks Liverpool should make a move for.

The Reds treble-winner also believes his old club would be shrewd if they made a move to re-sign Harry Wilson from Fulham.

The Wales international is out of contract at the end of the season but enjoying an eye-catching campaign for the Cottagers, returning seven goals and four assists from 20 Premier League appearances.

Now 28 years old, Wilson left Liverpool for Fulham in July 2021, going on to sign for the West London outfit in a permanent £12m deal after a successful year on loan as he helped the Cottagers win promotion back to the Premier League.

Now a proven Premier League performance, Henchoz believes Wilson could do a job back at Anfield if Liverpool bosses did consider him a suitable target.

“Harry Wilson is an interesting one for Liverpool,” he said. “When a player is available on a free transfer, it makes the decision very different.

“Wilson could also be an option, but it always depends on the club hierarchy, the directors, who they think is the best player or profile, and the strategy.

“Is it really only to take players and bring performance, or does the player have a resale value, which usually most clubs like to do?

“That’s probably what Liverpool have done with Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and even Alexander Isak, they all have a resale potential in 18 months or two years.”