With Crystal Palace now open to selling captain Marc Guehi this month, Arne Slot has refused to discuss Liverpool’s chances of reviving their summer deal.
Marc Guehi Status: Slot Responds to Palace “Threshold”
Glasner’s admission:Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has admitted for the first time that Marc Guehi could be sold this month if a “threshold” is reached.
Slot’s stance: Speaking on Wednesday, Arne Slot refused to discuss a move for Guehi but conceded that having only two senior centre-backs fit is “not ideal.”
The market: With Man City eyeing a £40m move due to injuries to Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, Liverpool face a choice between acting now or risking losing out.
Speaking on Tuesday, Palace manager Oliver Glasner admitted Guehi could be sold if an interested club meets their “threshold” this month.
“I’m not naive. If a massive offer comes and Marc wants to do it, it will happen,” Glasner told reporters including The Athletic‘s Dan Kilpatrick when pressed on Man City‘s interest.
He added: “There will be a threshold where the club has to say it will happen.”
According to the Guardian, this would be £40 million – which is £5 million more than the fee agreed for Guehi’s move to Liverpool in the summer.
It was timely then that Slot sat in front of the media on Wednesday morning, with Giovanni Leoni out until next season and Joe Gomez only recently returned from an injury of his own – but he gave a predictable response.
“I never talk about transfers in public, let alone about a transfer for maybe another club,” he said when asked about the possibility of challenging Man City for Guehi’s signature this month.
“You can try, but my answer is always the same. We don’t talk about players that are not ours.”
Fact File: Marc Guehi Transfer Status
Contract Expiry July 1, 2026 (6 months remaining)
Summer 2025 Price £35 million (Deal collapsed)
January 2026 Price Estimated £40 million
Primary Suitors Liverpool, Man City, Bayern Munich
Asked later on about the situation around Liverpool’s centre-backs – with only Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate consistently fit and Gomez required at right-back when available – Slot conceded it was not ideal.
However he insisted that it was “the way this club works” and pointed to Jurgen Klopp‘s own issues with depth in the position.
“Joe is back now, so that’s already a big help,” he began.
“But I think there is no manager in the world who would tell you ‘I am completely happy that I only have two centre-backs available’.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, October 29, 2025: Crystal Palace's captain Marc Guéhi during the Football League Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“You have to look at the bigger picture, and the bigger picture is that we’ve signed an unbelievably talented player in Giovanni Leoni who will be back next season.
“This is the way this club works. As much has been said about our spending last summer, it’s not that there is no limitation on us spending.
“We have to do smart things, and this club has always tried to do smart things, to keep up with the teams we want to compete with. That’s not any different now.
Liverpool Centre-Back Availability Tracker
Player Status Current Role
Virgil van Dijk FIT First-choice starter
Ibrahima Konate FIT First-choice starter
Joe Gomez RETURNING Senior cover at CB/RB
Wellity Lucky PROMOTED Regular squad member
Giovanni Leoni INJURED Out for season (ACL surgery)
Talla Ndiaye ARRIVING Signing in Jan (will join U21s)
“In an ideal world you have more than two centre-backs available, but sometimes things can work out in the way it has happened now.
“You have to accept the situation. And I don’t think that’s for the first time.
“I know Jurgen also had a few problems at centre-back and he played players that were either midfielders or…what was his name? He was with us? Nat Phillips – he played a lot.
“So that has been Liverpool for all these years and that has not changed.”
Should Liverpool do a smart thing and sign Guehi now?
Arne Slot admits that relying on just two fit senior centre-backs is a risk, especially with Man City now breathing down Crystal Palace‘s neck for Marc Guehi. Can Liverpool afford to wait for a free transfer in July, or must the club pay the premium today to help salvage their season?
Have your say: Do you agree with Liverpool’s patient approach, or is a January deal essential? Let us know in the comments.