Crystal Palace are facing a pivotal summer with England defender Marc Guehi at the heart of their transfer narrative. As revealed by talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs on a recent podcast appearance alongside Olly Clink and Jermaine Pennant, Guehi _“is not going to extend at Crystal Palace”_. This marks a significant shift in the club’s posture, and as Jacobs confirmed, _“Palace’s firm preference is to sell now.”_
The 24-year-old centre-back, who played a key role in Palace’s FA Cup win last season, is entering the final 12 months of his contract. While the club initially demanded between £65 million and £70 million, Jacobs noted that _“now the asking price from Palace’s perspective is more like £50 million, maybe a little bit more with add-ons.”_
Liverpool emerge as serious contenders
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Liverpool have joined the growing list of Premier League clubs monitoring Guehi’s situation. While Tottenham and Newcastle have previously expressed interest, Jacobs reported that _“Liverpool are the latest club to be exploring this deal.”_ The Reds, under Arne Slot, are seemingly planning for defensive reinforcements, particularly with uncertainty surrounding Ibrahima Konaté’s contract.
Jermaine Pennant speculated that _“if Liverpool was to go in for Marc Guehi, that means to me signals that Konaté is more on the side of leaving.”_ This aligns with recent reports that Konaté, who is also nearing the end of his contract, has yet to agree on fresh terms.
Pennant even floated the possibility of a Real Madrid-style scenario, where _“a Premier League team taps him up and says look, just see your contract out and we will look after you… a team like Liverpool.”_
Game time will decide Guehi’s next step
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Despite Liverpool’s interest, securing Guehi’s signature will require more than just meeting Palace’s valuation. According to Jacobs, _“a lot will also depend not just on who can agree a fee with Palace, but whether you can persuade Guehi he’s going to get the game time.”_
That remains the key question. With Virgil van Dijk still commanding a regular starting place and Konaté’s short-term future unresolved, Guehi would need assurances. As Jacobs explained, _“Guehi’s going to have to understand, can he get enough regular Premier League game time in order to be firmly in the plans?”_
This isn’t just about fee structure or wages. It’s a chess match involving minutes on the pitch and England ambitions, particularly with the World Cup on the horizon. _“From Guehi’s point of view, he is prepared to entertain \[leaving on a free\],”_ Jacobs added, highlighting how the player is weighing his options carefully.
Crystal Palace already planning ahead
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Palace are wasting no time in preparing for life after Guehi. Jacobs confirmed they are _“advancing in talks for the Sporting centre-back Ousmane Diomande.”_ This proactive approach underscores the belief within the club that Guehi’s departure is inevitable.
While Olly Clink referred to it as _“a bit of a blow for Crystal Palace”_, he acknowledged that Guehi would leave _“as an FA Cup winner”_ and with his stock at an all-time high.
Ultimately, this transfer could define the early days of Arne Slot’s Liverpool tenure. Guehi represents not only defensive depth but long-term succession planning for a side aiming to evolve post-Klopp. As Jacobs summarised, _“even if he gets a lucrative offer, the player may actually still decide to stay at Crystal Palace”_ — but for now, Liverpool are firmly in the mix.