Liverpool's pursuit of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has hit a significant roadblock, with fresh reports indicating the defender is poised to remain at Selhurst Park for the remainder of the season.
January Move Now in Serious Doubt
The Reds' hopes of bolstering their defensive ranks with a January swoop for Guehi have been dealt a major blow. According to a new update from BBC Sport, the England international is now expected to stay with Palace until the summer and see out the final six months of his existing contract.
This development follows a dramatic deadline day saga last summer, where a proposed £35 million transfer to Anfield collapsed at the eleventh hour. An agreement between the two clubs was reportedly in place before a late U-turn scuppered the move, forcing Guehi to stay put for the first half of the campaign.
Contract Situation and Manager's Admission
Guehi's contract with Crystal Palace is set to expire at the end of the current season. This situation would allow him to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January, or simply depart as a free agent in the summer.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner publicly acknowledged the likely outcome back in October. He revealed the club had offered Guehi a new deal, but the player declined. "I think Marc has already told us that he doesn't sign a new contract, so he will leave next year," Glasner stated. "They offered Marc a new contract. But he said; 'No, I want to make something different'. And that's normal."
Liverpool's Defensive Dilemma
Liverpool's interest in Guehi is driven by a pressing need to reinforce their centre-back options. The squad has been plagued by injury problems in that position this term. Summer signing Giovanni Leoni has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, while Joe Gomez has also faced spells on the sidelines.
Despite the strong links, which have also been reported by the Liverpool ECHO, it now appears increasingly likely that the Reds will have to explore alternative targets in January or decide against a defensive signing altogether. Guehi is also attracting interest from several other Premier League sides and clubs abroad.
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining Liverpool's transfer strategy, as they weigh up whether to make a final attempt for Guehi, shift their focus to other candidates, or rely on their existing squad to navigate the second half of the season.
