Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool’s hopes of bolstering their defensive options took a major hit on transfer deadline day when a £35 million move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi fell through in the final hours of the summer window.
The England international was scheduled for a medical in London on September 1, with all parties expecting the deal to go through. However, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish made the last-minute decision to cancel the transfer.
Guehi, now in the final year of his contract and refusing to sign a new deal, remains a target for Europe’s biggest clubs including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.
Foreign clubs hold an advantage as Guehi will be free to negotiate pre-contract agreements from January 2026, whereas Premier League sides cannot.
However, one of those foreign clubs in Bayern Munich feel that the Palace skipper is Anfield-bound.
Bundesliga insider Christian Falk has reported that the Bavarian giants “know” that Liverpool are best positioned to sign him as things stand:
“Bayern know that Liverpool are in the lead in the race for Marc Guehi. Yes, there was an agreement in the summer, and the Crystal Palace star would like to play for Liverpool,” he wrote.
“FC Bayern did make efforts to try and get Guehi in the market. In his agency, there’s one agent who is working for the German market, and, of course, Bayern had a contact.”
“However, the signs indicate that the Englishman is heading in the direction of Liverpool. There’s still some hope, there’s still a chance, but they know it’s getting hot.”
When asked directly about the possibility of signing Guehi or another centre-back in January, Slot played his cards close to his chest during his pre-Nottingham Forest press conference:
“This was one of the questions I didn’t expect, talking about signings in the winter,” Slot said with a smile.
“I think there are so many games to be played before that, and the position we are in, it’s the last thing that’s on my mind, maybe not for Richard [Hughes], but it’s the last thing on my mind”.
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