Revealed: The real reason Marc Guehi to Liverpool collapsed at 11th hour
Marc Guehi’s transfer from Crystal Palace to Premier League champions, Liverpool, fell through at the eleventh hour on deadline.
The 25-year-old, who has been commended for his behaviour throughout the transfer window, looked to be on the move to Merseyside with medicals booked and a deal sheet submitted by Liverpool for Guehi.
The prospective move would have seen the English international move for a reported £35 million, and with Guehi having a year left on his Palace contract it felt like it was now or never to secure a deal, but with time running out on deadline the move wasn’t sanctioned.
The club explored options for various defenders throughout the process including a swap deal for Joe Gomez from Liverpool, with Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji also an option for Palace.
This was the culmination of a saga that had Eagles fans between a rock and a hard place and eventually, the deal hinged on an ultimatum issued by boss Oliver Glasner.
Oliver Glasner weighs in on Marc Guehi deal
Guehi will now stay at Palace for at least the next four months, and with six months remaining on his deal in January, the England international is free to discuss pre-contract agreements with any club in the new year.
Talking on talkSPORT, Alex Crook revealed what Glasner had said to block the move: “It’s been suggested to me, by sources close to Marc Guehi, that Oliver Glasner has played a direct role in this deal not going through because he threatened to walk away from Palace if his captain was sold without a replacement coming in.
“There is an irony here, we know all about the animosity and the rivalry between Crystal Palace and Brighton […] but Igor, the Brighton defender, has unwittingly scuppered this deal because he turned down a move to Crystal Palace, it looks like he’s going to join West Ham instead.
“So it looks like Palace, under pressure from Glasner, and the chairman Steve Parish have said, ‘we can’t sanction this deal,'” Crook finished.
Marc Guehi’s transfer saga sets the precedent for player power
Football Insider verdict
It has been widely reported how professional Guehi has been throughout negotiations between Palace and Liverpool over a potential move.
In a transfer window that has seen Alexander Isak refuse to play for Newcastle in the hunt for a move to Liverpool, and Yoane Wissa go on strike as he waited for a move to Newcastle, Guehi comes out with added professionalism points.
| Marc Guehi 25/26 | |
| Minutes | 270 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Tackles | 5 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Clearances | 13 |
| Pass completions % | 83.9 |
However, Isak and Wissa’s actions were undoubtedly more effective, with the two strikers getting their desired moves.
Guehi, meanwhile, who stayed professional and continued to captain his side throughout was denied his dream move that looked set to happen.
No matter how you view the actions of Isak and Wissa, the outcome of both situations no doubt sets the precedent for potential moves in the future.