Marc Guehi continues to stir the transfer rumour mill as the Liverpool-target remains on the radar of several European powerhouses. Crystal Palace’s manager, Oliver Glasner, has divulged that the sought-after centre-back will be departing the club next summer, amid lingering interest from Liverpool.
Having showcased his defensive prowess for both club and country, the England international has established himself as a premier talent in Europe. However, with his contract expiring in 2026, his potential £35 million move to Liverpool crumbled on deadline day, leaving the reigning Premier League champions vulnerable to competition from the continent.
From January 1, Guehi is entitled to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs, a prospect Glasner confirmed as inevitable: “I think Marc has already told us that he doesn’t sign a new contract, so he will leave next year,” he stated on Friday.
Despite efforts from Crystal Palace to retain Guehi with a fresh contract offer, he has opted for new opportunities. “The club wanted [him to stay]. They offered Marc a new contract. But he said, ‘no, I want to make something different.’ And that’s normal,” Glasner remarked, highlighting the challenge of managing the anticipated transition.
Renowned Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol outlined the complexities facing Liverpool in this transfer saga, underscoring the advantages held by clubs on the continent: “Guehi has a big decision to make… Virtually every big club in Europe wants to sign him next summer.”
With the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City keen on securing his signature, Guehi appears destined for a move befitting his Champions League ambitions. Solhekol noted that although Real Madrid were interested in Arsenal’s William Saliba, the player’s new contract at Arsenal could shift their focus to either Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate or Guehi himself.
The situation is compounded by Spanish giants’ recent trend of snapping up star players—such as Kylian Mbappe and Trent Alexander-Arnold—on free transfers, thus emphasising their advantage with pre-contract capabilities. As a result, Solhekol suggested, “If I had to put money on it, I would say he’s going to end up next summer playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona.”
Indeed, while Premier League clubs could attempt a January bid for Guehi, his impending free agency complicates matters, potentially leaving Liverpool and others at a tactical disadvantage compared to their European counterparts. Such is the fierce competition to acquire one of the most promising centre-backs in world football.
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