Liverpool have been in talks with Crystal Palace over a deal for Marc Guehi but the Eagles have made clear what must happen before the England international can leave
10:25, 01 Sep 2025
Marc Guehi wants to join Liverpool
Marc Guehi wants to join Liverpool
Liverpool are still in negotiations over a deal for Marc Guehi, with Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner insisting that a replacement must be signed before the England international can depart.
The Premier League champions put forward a £35m bid with a 10% sell-on clause on Saturday, but the FA Cup winners are holding out for £40m for their captain. The talks continue as transfer deadline day looms.
Liverpool had identified the Palace captain as a potential acquisition earlier this summer. However, with the Three Lions centre-back entering the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park, the Reds adopted a laid-back approach, confident they could secure him either at a reduced price later in the window or as a free agent next year.
The Daily Star reported in June that Liverpool were willing to bide their time in their pursuit of Guehi, believing they could sign him towards the end of the window at a bargain price due to his contract situation.
A breakthrough was anticipated following Palace's Conference League qualifier against Fredrikstadt on Thursday night. Glasner insisted that Guehi needed to participate in the match to help the Eagles secure their first-ever European campaign, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Marc Guehi
Marc Guehi scored a stunner for Crystal Palace against Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)
However, Guehi remains a Palace player for now and netted a stunning goal in Sunday's impressive 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park. Glasner, who is keen to retain his captain, believes it's too late in the window to find a suitable replacement.
Glasner disclosed that Guehi had been informed back in March that he would be permitted to depart if the club could secure a centre-back replacement.
Earlier in June, Sporting's Ousmane Diomande was identified as the main target, whilst negotiations over Toulouse's 19 year old Jaydee Canvot are now reportedly at an advanced stage. Roma's Evan Ndicka is another name said to be catching attention at Selhurst Park, along with Manchester City's Switzerland international Manu Akanji.
Speaking to Sky Sports following that 3-0 victory over Villa, Glasner said: "For playing a successful season we need Marc and it is not possible with one day left to find a replacement who can play in the Premier League. You've seen out defensive setup, I have spoken about it quite often, this is our foundation and everyone knows exactly what he has to do.
"Everyone can rely on each other and Marc, of course, is not just a small part of the puzzle, he is our captain, so we have to keep him. I told this to the chairman and again it's not for me. It's nice because I like Marc, he is such a professional and such a nice guy, but it's for the future of Crystal Palace and playing a successful season, so we have to keep him.
"And especially we talked and said we [will] sell Marc if we have the right replacements, and we don't have the right replacements, so for me, it's clear to keep him."
In his post-match press conference, the Palace boss continued: "We had a meeting in March and we had an agreement that we're just selling Marc if we have the right replacement in. And we wanted to have this replacement at the beginning of the season, the pre-season, to be independent from this situation.
"This was July 9, today is August 31, there is no replacement in the building. So it is clear that one part of the agreement is not fulfilled, that means we can't sell Marc.
Marc Guehi
Marc Guehi is being eyed by Liverpool for a late swoop(Image: Getty Images)
"And it's not for Oliver Glasner. It's not a gift or a wish for Oliver Glasner. It's necessary for playing a successful season. We had a great start, we are the first time European football and I think our fans deserve to have the best players available.
"And know, if we don't sell Marc then Marc will accept it. Because he loves Crystal Palace, he loves the team and we feel the appreciation he has and he also feels the same from his side."
Following his display at Villa, Guehi insisted the ongoing rumours weren't impacting him, declaring: "What do the fans and the club mean to me? A lot.
"I'm a south London boy, grew up in south London, I captained the football club from an early age, so they've been fantastic for me and my family, you know, so definitely a pleasure to be playing for this football club.
"I'm OK, I'm OK. I'm dealing with [the speculation well]? I guess so. I don't like the limelight too much, the cameras in my face, everyone talking about me, but I am glad I have a good club, good team-mates around me, so I can focus on what matters, which is the football. It makes it easier for me. So yeah, I'm glad my family can be there to help me, the staff and everyone at Palace, so it is good."
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Following the Community Shield clash between Palace and Liverpool at Wembley in August, chairman Steve Parish acknowledged that the south London outfit couldn't afford to let such a valuable asset depart for nothing when his deal expires.
"Yes, of course, for players of that calibre to leave on a free, it is a problem for a football club," Parish revealed.
"There is no doubt about it, unfortunately. Joachim (Anderson) went (last summer to Fulham) and we couldn't afford to lose both of them.
"We then had another bid in January but that was a difficult situation as well. We will just have to see what happens. It needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind.
"In the end, people trade players. That is what football clubs do. Of course, if you don't care about tomorrow ever and put it all off, then we are a fantastic team.
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"If we had four more players, I don't know what we could achieve. Unfortunately, it is not always as simple as that. We have got a lot of outgoings this year because we are paying a lot of transfer fees for players that we have already got."
Parish chimed in: "If you see the fees, they are just nuts. The money we are paying, crazy. We will have to see. We will do whatever we can. We won't stop working. But as far as people being here or not being here, it depends.
"If it is the right decision for the football club and for them, there will be changes. But we have got to make smart ones."