Liverpool came agonisingly close to signing Marc Guehi for £35million in the summer transfer window and now the Reds face competition from Bayern Munich as January rolls around
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 07: Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring their side's second goal during the Premier League match between Fulham and Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on December 07, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Marc Guehi is set to become a free agent(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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Liverpool are on red alert after it emerged that Bayern Munich have pencilled in talks with Marc Guehi over a potential free transfer. Crystal Palace captain Guehi underwent a medical with Liverpool in September before a £35million deal collapsed at the eleventh hour.
The England international is now in the final year of his contract and has made it clear that he won't sign a new deal with Palace. That's prompted interest from a host of European giants, including Bayern, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Liverpool retain an interest but risk missing out on the former Chelsea prospect if they wait until the summer. That's because Bayern's director of sport, Max Eberl, plans to speak to Guehi in January and steal a march on Liverpool, according to Sky Germany.
Once the 25-year-old enters the last six months of his deal, he'll be allowed to speak to clubs from abroad and sign a pre-contract agreement. Rules dictate that Liverpool can't do the same and face the dilemma of either paying for Guehi in January or waiting.
By then, however, Guehi could already be bound for Bavaria. It's even been claimed that Bayern star Harry Kane is urging his England team-mate to move to Munich.
There is one upside to Bayern's pursuit of Guehi for Liverpool. It signals that Vincent Kompany's side don't plan to sign Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, who's been linked with the Reds as an alternative.
Schlotterbeck, 26, is stalling on a new contract with Dortmund and it's believed that the Bundesliga giants will look to sell him if a deal can't be reached. The Germany international is left-footed, offering Liverpool a change of different element in defence.
The Reds are in the market for a centre-back amid Ibrahima Konate's uncertain future. Although Real have cooled their interest, Konate's drop-off in performance this season has put Liverpool in a tricky position.
DORTMUND, GERMANY - DECEMBER 07: Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and TSG Hoffenheim at Signal Iduna Park on December 07, 2025 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images)
Nico Schlotterbeck is an alternative to Marc Guehi
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Like Guehi, the Frenchman is on course to become a free agent in June. Arne Slot hopes that Konate can turn his form around in the second half of the season, having helped Liverpool keep a clean sheet during their crucial 1-0 win away to Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.
"I think the hardest thing for him but also for me is to see that during large parts of the game he's played very well, also in games where he was involved in goals we've conceded," Slot explained.
"Let's take the PSV game. I think until that moment he played a very good game and that has been so many times, so it's not a surprise for me that he can play well, but I'm so happy for him that he kept a clean sheet and he wasn't involved in anything that happened tonight.
"He has also been very unlucky that if you make mistake or if you are involved in a mistake that this ball constantly has gone in."
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