Liverpool’s bid to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace looked set to be one of the big stories of deadline day.
A £35m deal was close, the defender was reportedly on Merseyside for a medical, and fans were already picturing him alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Then, in classic transfer drama fashion, the move broke down right at the finish line.
The Reds, fresh from splashing out £130m on Alexander Isak and welcoming Florian Wirtz earlier in the summer, had one more defensive ace up their sleeve.
But just as it seemed like Guehi would trade Selhurst Park for Anfield, the plan fell apart. And yes, Palace fans could say their backline held firm off the pitch too.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Liverpool’s secret offer uncovered in Guehi transfer saga
Reports (via journalist Chris Williams) suggest Liverpool tried to sweeten the deal by offering Joe Gomez on loan with an option to buy.
Palace, however, weren’t interested. Oliver Glasner, their manager, was not ready to lose his captain without a proper replacement.
Brighton’s Igor Julio had been lined up but ended up at West Ham instead, leaving Palace without cover.
That’s when Glasner, apparently ready to walk away if Guehi left, made his stance clear. “We can’t sell Marc without a replacement,” he told Palace chiefs, and the deal was stopped in its tracks.
Liverpool, who even filed the paperwork to extend the deadline, were left frustrated. Guehi will now stay at Palace until at least January.
For the Reds, it’s a blow. They have Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, and new signing Giovanni Leoni, but Guehi was seen as a long-term partner to anchor the defense.
Instead, Liverpool’s “late press” in the transfer market failed to hit the target.
Fans may well ask why it came down to the last minutes. In football, timing can be everything — and in this case, Liverpool ran out of it.
Liverpool news and related links
