Liverpool top brass sit for talks to bring in failed summer transfer target

Liverpool thought they had their defensive jigsaw complete. Marc Guehi had agreed terms, the paperwork was ready, and the Crystal Palace captain was preparing for life at Anfield. Then, at the very last moment, Palace slammed the door shut.

For Guehi, the collapse hit hardest. The 25-year-old had set his heart on the move, eager to test himself at the very top with the Premier League champions. Palace’s late U-turn left him stranded, still in South London, when he had already pictured himself in red. For Liverpool, the failure left a hole in their squad that could cost them dearly as the season drags on.

Palace can easily justify their decision by pointing to the lack of a replacement. On paper, they’ve bought themselves a few more months of stability. In reality, they’ve almost guaranteed losing Guehi for nothing next summer, when his contract runs out and the choice of destination is entirely his. Holding him now might prove a costly gamble.

The twist of fate adds extra spice to this weekend’s clash at Selhurst Park. Palace welcome Liverpool in the league, and Guehi will find himself directly up against the team he expected to join. It’s a strange scenario: he’ll marshal Palace’s backline knowing that, had things gone differently, he could have been lining up alongside Alexander Isak instead of trying to stop him.

Guehi has already faced the Reds once this season. Palace edged the Community Shield on penalties, with Guehi lifting silverware just as talk of the transfer was gathering pace. That day felt like a stepping stone to Anfield. Instead, he remains locked at Palace, at least for now.

But the situation has shifted again. Liverpool’s young defender Giovanni Leoni tore his ACL against Palace in midweek, leaving Arne Slot with just three senior centre-backs; skipper Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez. That injury exposes exactly why Liverpool were so desperate for Guehi in the first place, and it could push the club back to the table sooner than planned as per The Express.

Liverpool originally intended to wait until the summer and take Guehi on a free. Now, with their depth stretched thin, they may have no choice but to act in January. Palace won the first round by keeping their man, but this battle isn’t finished. Guehi’s future still feels destined to end at Anfield, whether it’s in a few months or at the end of the season. But with other players like Spurs and Chelsea in the fray, it’s sure going to be an interesting watch.