Danny Murphy has urged Liverpool to ‘just pay what they need to pay’ to sign Marc Guehi in January amid fears they could miss out on the England defender.

The former Liverpool midfielder’s comments come amid reports Crystal Palace have identified a suitable replacement for their highly-rated captain.

Guehi had agreed to move to Anfield on deadline day and was part way through his medical when the Eagles pulled the plug on the £35million transfer.

The decision appears to have cost the Reds dear as they have looked very shaky at the back, keeping just two clean sheets in their opening 11 games of the season and conceding 15 goals, with Ibrahima Konate looking woefully out of form.

To make matters worse, Konate has picked up an injury during the international break, while Giovanni Leoni has been ruled out for a year with a ACL issue, leaving Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez as the only fit centre-backs at the club.

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