What led to the collapse of Marc Guehi’s transfer as Liverpool faced a setback on Deadline Day?
Liverpool’s £35 million deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has fallen apart following a dramatic Deadline Day at Selhurst Park.
The Reds initially made a £35 million offer on Saturday, including a 10% sell-on clause. Although Palace was holding out for £40 million, an agreement was reached on Monday, allowing Guehi to undergo his medical before the 7 PM cut-off.
After completing the medical tests in London, Guehi seemed poised to sign a five-year contract at Anfield. However, Palace’s efforts to find a replacement hit a snag when West Ham United approached Brighton & Hove Albion’s Julio Igor, who was on the verge of a loan deal. This unexpected move caused Palace to reconsider their stance.
Eagles manager Oliver Glasner insisted that a suitable replacement must be secured before agreeing to sell the England international to Liverpool. While Palace did confirm the signing of French youth international Jaydee Canvot on a four-year deal, he is not seen as a direct replacement for Guehi at this stage.
Liverpool submitted a deal sheet to extend the transfer window by two hours beyond the 7 PM deadline, but the agreement ultimately fell through, leaving Guehi’s transfer hopes in ruins.
Discussions between Palace chairman Steve Parish and Glasner occurred on Monday, with Glasner, who led the Eagles to their first major trophy in May, ultimately getting his wish to keep Guehi.
With Palace entering their inaugural season in European competition after qualifying for the Conference League, Glasner was determined to retain his key defender, leaving Liverpool unable to strengthen their squad further.
Despite late interest from AC Milan, Liverpool has retained Joe Gomez, maintaining four center-backs in their roster, especially after signing Italian teenager Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £26 million in mid-August. With Wataru Endo also able to play in defense, the club feels adequately stocked in that position, even after missing out on Guehi.
After Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, Glasner reiterated that Guehi would not be sold without a suitable replacement. He stated, “We had a meeting in March and agreed that we would only sell Marc if we found the right replacement. We wanted this replacement at the start of the season to avoid situations like this.”
He emphasized that if no replacement was found, they could not sell Guehi, adding that the decision is necessary for a successful season. “Our fans deserve the best players available,” he said, noting that Guehi’s commitment to Crystal Palace remains strong.
