As the football world continues to digest the tragic death of Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, fans are beginning to realise just how much he meant to them.
Liverpool aren’t playing games this summer. Arne Slot may have already splashed close to £200 million, but there’s a sense around Anfield that they’re not done yet. And why would they be? You don’t win a Premier League title and stop moving — not when the aim is to dominate.
Florian Wirtz came in for a whopping £116m, but it’s clear that was just the beginning. The Reds are still pushing. The links keep coming — and they won’t stop until Slot gives the green light that his squad is title-defence ready.
Right now, the focus is razor-sharp: a new striker, and a new centre-back.
We’ve heard a lot about Marc Guehi. A smart, ready-made solution with Premier League pedigree. But now, another name is rising through the ranks of Liverpool’s shortlist: Castello Lukeba.
The 22-year-old RB Leipzig defender has started to generate real noise. And now, per reports, Liverpool have been invited to bid. Not chased, not forced — invited. That’s usually a green light disguised in politeness.
The word is that internal discussions have already taken place between Lukeba and Leipzig — and both sides are open to a move. The release clause? High. But the club is reportedly willing to sell for something far below that. Liverpool are said to be optimistic of getting a deal done for around £50–55 million — a “cut-rate” deal for a player with this kind of ceiling.
Now, is Lukeba more of a risk than Guehi? Sure. He’s less proven in England and coming off an injury-hit campaign. But he’s a French international, physically elite, composed on the ball — and at 22, he’s only scratching the surface.
Guehi, on the other hand, offers no guesswork. Arguably England’s most consistent centre-back last season, and with just one year left on his deal, Palace are under pressure to sell. If not now, they risk losing him for free in 2026. That makes him a logical, shrewd target. Safe. Smart. And immediate.
It’s clear one of these two is coming. The only question is: do Liverpool go with the certainty of Guehi, or the upside of Lukeba?
Whichever route Slot and Richard Hughes take, one thing’s for sure — Liverpool aren’t just building a team to defend their title. They’re building one to keep it.