Latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip as the Reds are handed an update about the future of Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi
Mark has been a football journalist since 2017 and has contributed to several publications including the Liverpool Echo, Manchester Evening News and football.london. He also spent eight months on the US Sports team for the Mirror US
Marc Guehi's deadline day transfer to Liverpool collapsed
Marc Guehi's deadline day transfer to Liverpool collapsed(Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
Liverpool made plenty of headlines for their transfer business on deadline day. The signing of Alexander Isak for £125million is a British transfer record and saw the end of one of the most intense transfer sagas in recent years.
It was not just the signing of Isak that made headlines, though. Liverpool also tried to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace in a deal worth £35million.
A fee was agreed with Crystal Palace, but the deal fell through after the Eagles failed to bring in a replacement before Monday's 7pm deadline. As a result, Liverpool did not sign Guehi and now much of the talks bas been dominated by a 'will they, won't they' scenario about a future move for the England international.
Guehi is out of contract next summer and can talk to clubs outside England about a free transfer from January onwards. Liverpool will be aware of this, but a fresh report from The Times indicates that the Reds are clear with their plan going forward.
It has been reported that Liverpool are not planning to sign Guehi in January, and will instead wait until the summer to strike a deal for a free transfer for the defender. That is, of course, if they still wish to sign Guehi and if the defender still wishes to move to Anfield.
A lot can happen in 12 months, and by the time next summer arrives a host of clubs could be in the running to sign the player. There is also some uncertainty around members of Liverpool's current defensive options.
Virgil van Dijk is 34 years old and will have a year left on his deal when next summer arrives, while Ibrahima Konate's contract expires next summer. Joe Gomez was heavily linked with a move away from the Reds on deadline day, while summer signing Giovanni Leoni is 18 years old and yet to make his first appearance for the club.
Liverpool would be wise to add some more certainty to their defence, and Guehi would have provided that. At 25 years old, an England international and captain for his club, Guehi would have represented a perfect piece of business for the Reds.
Instead, Liverpool may now be forced into a rethink when it comes to their centre-back signings going forward. If Guehi is the player that they want and need, the club will need to have a great amount of confidence that a deal can still be agreed next summer.
Even if that confidence is there, Liverpool would still be wise to have plans in place in the event that a move for Guehi in 2026 does not come to pass. What those plans may involve is unknown, but it would be ideal if one or two centre-back options are being considered as alternatives, at the very least.
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