Liverpool scout claims Marc Guehi will be Virgil van Dijk's replacement as Reds look to agree bargain £35m fee with Crystal Palace

Downing, who is involved in identifying and recommending players rather than negotiations, suggested that Guehi would be a short-term boost alongside Van Dijk and then eventually take over the skipper's mantle. It could even pave the way for Ibrahima Konate to leave sooner rather than later, with the Frenchman out of contract next summer and showing little interest in signing a new one.

With time in the transfer window running out, Liverpool were reported on Saturday evening to have presented an offer to Crystal Palace for Guehi worth a flat £35 million ($47m). That will test Palace's resolve and their ability to move quickly and source a replacement. Like Konate, Guehi is out of contract at the end of the season and could leave as a free agent if he isn't sold.

"I think Guehi would be coming in as the cover and I can say in a couple of years time he will probably be Van Dijk's successor, I can see that yeah," Downing told Flashscore who offer the latest sports betting apps.

"I thought they were going to get him last summer actually when they were linked with him quite a bit. Konate's situation is going to be difficult because if he keeps turning down contracts, Liverpool are going to have to get to a point where they're selling him. He's going to have to go now or in January. We could see a surprise departure this summer for him, you never know. Right at the end of the window they'll just go, actually he's not going to sign, let's just get rid of him after signing Guehi, or maybe signing Guehi puts the pressure on Konate?

"Does he really want to leave or is he using this situation as leverage to get a better deal? I've got a sneaky feeling that Konate might leave and Guehi’s a very good replacement, isn't he? He's not a bad player and I think they'll get him for a decent price. I think it'll definitely happen. If it's not now, I think it'll be January."

Time is very much of the essence. The transfer deadline for Premier League clubs to sign players falls at 7pm (BST) on Monday evening, rather than late at night like it has been in previous years. Even just a matter of hours could make a huge amount of difference to whether deals get done. Palace have shown interest in getting Joe Gomez as part of any Guehi transfer, but Liverpool are reluctant to let that happen.