Liverpool and Chelsea Circle Young Chelsea Talent as Both Clubs Eye Guehi Repeat Avoidance

The Marc Guehi saga continues to haunt both Liverpool and Chelsea, and now both clubs find themselves with a chance to avoid repeating that particular mistake—though one of them may be about to make it anyway.

While Guehi settles into life at Manchester City following his January move from Crystal Palace, preparing to stake his World Cup claim in upcoming England internationals under Thomas Tuchel, the two Premier League heavyweights are nursing their respective regrets. Chelsea's decision to offload the centre-back to Palace for £20m in summer 2021, rather than give him a genuine opportunity at Stamford Bridge after his impressive Swansea loan spell, has aged poorly. He made just two appearances for his boyhood club before departing.

Liverpool, for their part, watched from the sidelines as their defensive woes mounted. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have lurched between indifferent and downright poor, undermining what should have been a more convincing title defence. Had the Reds managed to land Guehi that summer, their backline might tell a rather different story this season. They did recruit Giovanni Leoni from Parma—a prospect who flashed promise in a solitary outing before injury struck—and secured Jeremy Jacquet ahead of Chelsea for his summer arrival. Yet both clubs now have their sights trained on another Chelsea academy prospect.

Josh Acheampong has become the focus of attention. The 19-year-old, valued at over £20m following a breakthrough season, has already attracted interest from Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Newcastle. Making his debut only last term, Acheampong has impressed operating at both right-back and centre-back, demonstrating the physical and technical tools that mark him as a genuine prospect. Standing 1.9m tall, he's caught eyes with his line-breaking passing and willingness to drive forward with the ball.

Real Madrid view him as a long-term investment, keen on young talent capable of developing into leadership positions. Chelsea's hierarchy publicly regard him as untouchable—yet the club's track record suggests they'll entertain almost any offer if the profit margins stack up on academy sales.

The sticking point? According to journalist Ekrem Konur, Acheampong "wants to leave due to a lack of playing time" despite making 24 appearances this season. That's a red flag Chelsea cannot ignore, particularly given his current wage packet of just £5,000 per week. An improved contract should be on the table immediately.

For Liverpool, the stakes feel equally high. Konate's contract extension remains unsigned, Van Dijk edges closer to the natural end of his Anfield tenure, and defensive reinforcement has become urgent business. Should they move decisively for Acheampong, they could finally learn the Guehi lesson. Chelsea, meanwhile, faces a choice between holding firm and risking another prospect slipping through their fingers—or watching their own academy product walk out the door.