Marc Guehi may become available in January and Liverpool now know they could face competition from injury-hit Man City if they pursue a January transfer.
As the first week of the January transfer window draws to a close, both Liverpool and Man City find themselves with a shortage of centre-backs.
Marc Guehi Transfer: Liverpool vs. Man City
The market shift:Crystal Palace are now reportedly open to a January sale to avoid losing Guehi for free this summer, but they will demand more than £35 million.
The competition: Man City have entered the race after Josko Gvardiol (broken leg) and Ruben Dias (hamstring) were sidelined with long-term injuries.
Liverpool’s stance: While the Reds remain strongly interested, they must decide whether to bring forward their summer plans or risk losing out to a title rival.
Arne Slot has Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate available and Joe Gomez has just returned from a hamstring injury, but Giovanni Leoni will miss the remainder of the season and Wataru Endo is out with an ankle issue.
Meanwhile Man City have lost both Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol to serious injuries, with Pep Guardiola’s side recalling youngster Max Alleyne from Watford but looking to the market for a new signing.
Guehi is of interest to both clubs, so what is the state of play around Palace’s captain this transfer window?
Marc Guehi (right) celebrates scoring Palace’s second goal. August 31, 2025 (David Davies/PA)
Is Marc Guehi still a Liverpool transfer target?
Yes. Liverpool are known to retain their interest in Marc Guehi after seeing their £35 million deal fall through on deadline day.
The Athletic‘s James Pearce reported on Tuesday that he has since been regarded as a target for the summer – by which point he will be a free agent – but that was on the understanding that Palace would not sell mid-season.
Crystal Palace’s January price tag for Marc Guehi
According to transfer journalist Ben Jacobs, Crystal Palace would look for more than the £35 million fee agreed with Liverpool in the summer if they were to sell Guehi in January.
Writing on X, Jacobs claimed that Man City have no plans to reach that amount if they decide to pursue a move for Guehi.
The Guehi valuation: While Liverpool agreed a £35m fee in August 2025, Crystal Palace are reportedly holding out for more to sanction a mid-season exit for their captain.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 1, 2024: Manchester City's Rúben Dias looks dejected during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
How long are Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol out for Man City?
Ruben Dias is facing four to six weeks out with a hamstring injury, while Josko Gvardiol will undergo surgery after fracturing his shinbone and is expected to miss the majority of the second half of the season.
Speaking on Tuesday, per Sky Sports, Pep Guardiola admitted those absences may prompt Man City to enter the January market: “Maybe we get something but it is completely different.
“We are not going to buy four or five players like last season.”
Will Marc Guehi leave Crystal Palace in January?
BBC Sport‘s Sami Mokbel reported on Monday that Palace had softened their stance on selling Guehi mid-season, with there a sense they would part ways with the 25-year-old to avoid losing him for free.
This comes after Palace manager Oliver Glasner said last week: “I don’t know what will happen with Marc. I don’t know what will happen with new players…I don’t know anything.”
The Big Debate
Should Liverpool pay the premium to beat Man City to Marc Guehi?
After the £35m deadline day deal collapsed in the summer, Liverpool now face a nightmare scenario: seeing Marc Guehi join Man City to solve Pep Guardiola’s injury crisis. With Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate currently fit but the squad depth thin, can the Reds afford to wait until he’s a free agent?
Have your say: Is it time to pay whatever it takes for Guehi, or should Liverpool stick to their summer plan? Let us know in the comments.