Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi applauds the fans at Selhurst Park.placeholder image
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi applauds the fans at Selhurst Park. | Getty Images
Crystal Palace just about managed to hold onto captain Marc Guehi on deadline day
After a summer of strong links away from Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi remained with the Eagles on deadline day after a proposed move to Liverpool fell through at the eleventh hour.
The reality may be that Palace are forced to part ways with Guehi in January, this time with more time to find a replacement at centre-back and with their Conference League adventure well underway after having had their captain around to lead the troops. Should he depart in the winter, there will be no shortage of suitors.
Five-way battle anticipated for Guehi
In the summer Liverpool almost had it all their own way in negotiations for Guehi, with almost no significant competition for his signature until Palace chairman Steve Parish pulled the plug on the move. In January, it could be a completely different story.
According to reports by the Daily Star, a five-way transfer battle is set to ensue for Guehi. Alongside Liverpool, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are expected to hold a stronger interest after tentative links late in the summer window.
The biggest competition is set to arrive from on the continent, though - as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are all expected to attempt a move for the accomplished defender. If Guehi has still not agreed on a new deal with Palace come January, he will be open to negotiate with foreign clubs and sign a pre-contract agreement with giants of the likes of Madrid and Barcelona. This may force the hand of Liverpool and City to start a bidding war.
Palace may get their full asking price for Guehi
Initial hopes around Anfield will no doubt have been that they can secure the signature of Guehi on a cut-price deal in January. With news of the European competition who may come in for the England star, Palace and the Reds may be faced by a different scenario altogether.
Palace will want to avoid the outcome where Guehi decides to run down his contract and leave for free in the summer. But with five super-clubs all interested and potentially more to arrive at the table, Parish will be more than aware that the opportunity exists for the Eagles to extract the full £35m fee they had agreed on September 1.
Man City have made a poor start to the new season with two Premier League defeats already, while Liverpool have a distinct lack of central defensive options and looked weak at the back against Bournemouth and Newcastle United. The belief at Selhurst Park may be that the two English sides will feel there is a lot riding on a move for Guehi, who could be seen as the missing piece in a title challenge.
A bidding war could be a realistic conclusion, which would be an ideal outcome for Palace - allowing the club to make a handsome profit on one of their top players of recent years.
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