Marc Guehi will not become a Liverpool player on transfer deadline day but the Reds can hold out hope for future
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace looks on
Marc Guehi's deadline day transfer to Liverpool has collapsed(Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
Liverpool's late attempt to sign Marc Guehi has ended in disappointment. The central defender's £35m deadline day move from Crystal Palace collapsed at the final hurdle.
The Reds had everything set in place with Palace, Guehi completed a medical in London ahead of the proposed move and Liverpool had even gone to the lengths of submitting a deal sheet that would grant them an extra two hours after the window closed to finalise the transfer.
But events out of their control mean Liverpool have been blocked by Palace from signing the 25-year-old defender.
Palace have confirmed French youth international Jaydee Canvot on a four-year deal but the 19-year-old is not viewed as someone who can directly succeed Guehi at this stage of his career. They were also on the cusp of a loan deal for Brighton's Igor Julio, however that proposed move came crashing down hours before the 7pm deadline.
In turn, Eagles boss Oliver Glasner got his wish to keep his captain without the correct replacements recruited in time.
This leaves several options to resolve Guehi's future over the coming transfer windows with Liverpool still a possible destination.
Next up is the January 2026 transfer window, which will open on New Years' Day, 2026, and close on January 31, 2026. During this window Liverpool would still be forced to pay a fee if they wished to sign Guehi from their Premier League rivals.
It may seem counterproductive when the England international would be available for free a matter of months later, however it would have to be a calculated risk amid a potential title battle, much like how Real Madrid opted to pay around £8m to get Trent Alexander-Arnold from the Reds one month before he would have been a free agent so that he could play in this summer's FIFA Club World Cup.
The reality for Palace is that they have most likely sacrificed the £35m agreement with Liverpool, who would certainly look to pay less in the winter.
If Liverpool chose not to then they risk a foreign rival establishing interest and Guehi and making their first official approach in January. FIFA rules dictate clubs outside of England are granted permission to approach impending free agents at this point before a player's contract ends.
Whereas Anfield chiefs are at a disadvantage as they would have to wait until July 1, 2026, before officially being allowed to organise Guehi's signing as a free agent.
Of course if this were to be the case then Guehi would have to avoid renewing his contract with Palace. The London club may push to do so in order to include a release clause for his future exit, or he may elect to stay entirely.
But throughout the summer there has been no hint of this being the player's wish amid Liverpool's interest, which came to a head on deadline day.
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