Marc Guehi
IMAGE CREDITS: CRYSTAL PALACE
Liverpool have opened talks with Crystal Palace over a potential deal for centre-back Marc Guehi this summer.
The 25-year-old is in the final year of his contract and has shown no interest in extending it.
Palace chairman Steve Parish acknowledged losing Guehi on a free transfer would be a problem and conceded the captain could leave before the transfer window closes.
Speaking after the Eagles beat the Reds on penalties in Sunday’s Community Shield, Parish said: “Yes, of course, for players of that calibre to leave on a free, it is a problem for a football club.
“There is no doubt about it, unfortunately. Joachim (Anderson) went (last summer to Fulham) and we couldn’t afford to lose both of them.
“We then had another bid in January but that was a difficult situation as well. We will just have to see what happens. It needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind.
“In the end, people trade players. That is what football clubs do. Of course, if you don’t care about tomorrow ever and put it all off, then we are a fantastic team.
“If we had four more players, I don’t know what we could achieve.
“Unfortunately, it is not always as simple as that. We have got a lot of outgoings this year because we are paying a lot of transfer fees for players that we have already got.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has only three senior central defenders after selling Jarell Quansah, with Joe Gomez sidelined due to injury.
While Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch could fill in, Liverpool are keen to strengthen their defence.
DaveOCKOP exclusively revealed that Liverpool are willing to pay up to £30m up front for Guehi, but the Eagles are hoping for a fee closer to £40m.
Talks are progressing between the clubs and it is believed that an agreement will be found.
According to Ed Aarons of The Guardian, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner prefers Guehi to remain at Selhurst Park for the final year of his contract rather than move to Liverpool.
Writing on X, Aarons said: “Understand Oliver Glasner would prefer Marc Guehi to stay at Palace for another season and see out his contract.
“Palace want to sell England defender so they don’t lose him for nothing next year but Guehi prepared to stay in south London if Liverpool don’t meet £40m valuation.”
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