Liverpool saw a £35million deal collapse for Marc Guehi in the summer but the Crystal Palace defender is now available in the January transfer window amid competition from Manchester City
Marc Guehi
Marc Guehi's contract at Crystal Palace expires in June(Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
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Arne Slot has insisted that he is "really happy" with his squad and hinted Liverpool may not pursue Marc Guehi in the January transfer window. The Reds had agreed a £35million deal for Guehi on deadline day in September, only for Crystal Palace to scrap the move at the eleventh hour.
Liverpool maintain their interest in the England international and are amongst several clubs preparing to make their case to the player when his Selhurst Park contract runs out at the end of the campaign.
However, the situation has potentially shifted with one of those interested parties, Manchester City, grappling with an injury crisis at centre-back, whilst Palace manager Oliver Glasner acknowledged on Tuesday that the player could be offloaded this month for the right price.
Whilst Slot declined to comment on a potential swoop for Guehi, the Reds boss voiced his support for the existing squad. "I never talk about transfers in public, let alone talking about a transfer from another club," he said on Wednesday, reports the Liverpool Echo. "My answer is always the same. We don't talk about players that are not ours."
"I am really happy with the squad we have. All the decisions made last summer and the summer before are completely aligned with me, Richard [Hughes] and the ownership. This season has shown how talented this group is and if everyone is available how good a team we can be."
City have lost Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias to injury and could be tempted to move for Guehi and beat the competition this month. Palace boss Glasner has conceded that the club would sell for £40m.
“Honestly I don’t know what will happen,” Glasner said. “If you're just valuing sports, everyone in the club will say Marc has to stay. The chairman will tell you the same. But it's not one-dimensional. Nothing in life is one-dimensional. So if you see the financial situation, it's very important. Everybody wants him to play for Crystal Palace, sign a new contract and stay here forever.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been speaking about Hugo Ekitike ahead of his side's game against Arsenal
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insists he's happy with his squad
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"That's what everybody will tell you. On the other side, there's the situation that the contract ends in summer and if somebody is coming, there will be a moment when the club says, now the financial issue is more important than the sport issue. I’m not so naive not to know that if a massive offer comes from City and Marc wants to do it, it will happen.”
Slot was also pressed once more regarding the potential return of Harvey Elliott to Liverpool following Aston Villa manager Unai Emery's acknowledgement that the Midlands outfit have no plans to give the 22 year old loanee sufficient appearances to activate the £35m permanent transfer clause.
"Liverpool have no recall option," the Reds boss confirmed.
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