Liverpool fans, brace yourselves – the long-awaited defensive reinforcement could finally be on its way to Anfield this January.
After a heartbreaking near-miss in the summer transfer window, the Reds are poised to land England international Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, with fresh indications suggesting a £35m bid could seal the deal and wipe away the ghosts of that failed summer swoop.
The 25-year-old centre-back has been a top target for Arne Slot’s side ever since their ambitious push to sign him collapsed at the eleventh hour last summer. Guehi’s contract at Selhurst Park is set to expire at the end of the season, putting Palace in a precarious position: hold onto their captain and risk losing him for free, or cash in during the winter window to secure a hefty fee. According to reports, the Eagles are leaning towards the latter, especially with Liverpool circling once more.
Former Manchester United and Blackburn scout Mick Brown has dropped a major hint that Palace could be tempted by an offer around the £35m mark – the same figure they were reportedly willing to accept in the summer. Speaking to Football Insider, Brown outlined the internal tug-of-war at Palace: “Palace are in a very difficult situation with Guehi. Glasner obviously doesn’t want to lose him mid-way through the season – as he’s a crucial player, their captain, one of their best players, and so important to everything they do.”
Brown continued, highlighting the financial temptations overriding footballing concerns: “So on the playing side of things, it would be very risky to let him leave in January when they still hold ambitions of pushing up the league table and winning in Europe. The problem is, it will be very tempting for the Palace hierarchy to sell. They almost let him go in the summer – and would have done if not for the manager’s protestations – so I have no doubt they will be tempted again. If they get an offer around that £35million they were willing to accept in the summer, it would make sense on the financial side of things to let him go.”
He concluded with a stark prediction: “So it’s about the footballing side versus the financial side, the manager versus the board and unfortunately, in my experience, the board will usually be tempted. As much as Palace won’t want to lose Guehi, I expect they will look at the financial side of things, and think that’s too much money to turn down.”
This insight aligns with comments from Palace chairman Steve Parish, who previously addressed the summer saga on talkSPORT. Parish admitted the decision to retain Guehi was far from straightforward: “It’s a difficult decision. It’s as simple as that these things are never black and white. I decided in the end that – based on the advice that I got and with what I think – that we would have a better season if we kept Marc.”
Parish elaborated on the unique circumstances: “We don’t guess with these things. If you look at it rationally, if you look at what is worth the place in the Premier League, the fact that we’re in the Conference League for the first time in our history, this it’s a fairly unusual set of circumstances in which to keep a player. If we were fighting between the difference of 10th and 14th place, if that was going to be the difference between keeping Marc and letting Marc go, then probably we would have said; ‘We should take the money’.”
For Liverpool, securing Guehi would represent a significant coup, especially amid stiff competition from Europe’s elite. Sky Germany has reported that Bayern Munich’s sporting director Max Eberl has already initiated talks with Guehi’s representatives, while Manchester City, Barcelona, and Real Madrid have all been linked with the Three Lions star. Guehi’s consistent performances for England and his leadership at Palace make him a prime candidate to bolster Liverpool’s backline, potentially partnering with Virgil van Dijk in what could be a formidable defensive duo.
As the January window approaches, the Reds have been handed a golden opportunity to “erase the past” and rectify their summer disappointment. With Slot’s team chasing glory on multiple fronts, adding a player of Guehi’s caliber could be the missing piece in their puzzle. Will Anfield finally welcome the England defender? If Brown’s hints prove accurate, a £35m offer might just be the key to unlocking that door. Stay tuned – this transfer saga is far from over.
