The mood surrounding Liverpool’s defensive reinforcements was decidedly stormy as Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi found himself unable to seal a last-minute move to Merseyside. The Eagles’ centre-half had been linked with a switch to Anfield throughout the summer, with Palace reportedly open to parting ways given he is in the final year of his contract granted their £35m asking price was met and a suitable replacement found.
The plot thickened on deadline day with Liverpool and Crystal Palace reaching an agreement, and Guehi undergoing a medical in the capital. Yet, hopes were dashed when Palace, unable to secure Brighton defender Igor Julio who chose West Ham instead abruptly pulled the plug on the Guehi deal.
Ed Aarons, a journalist with insider knowledge, relayed via social platform X that Guehi is “extremely unhappy” following the botched transfer. He’s expected to air his grievances with an imminent statement, shedding light on his frustrations after handling the situation with professionalism, unlike some of his contemporaries.
The implications for Liverpool are significant, with the club’s defensive options appearing perilously thin. Punditry from the corner of Jeff Stelling painted the transfer saga as a “massive blow” for the Reds. “Now, they have left themselves potentially very short at the back,” he lamented, alluding to the delicate situation should injuries strike heavyweights like Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate.
In the realm of football punditry, Danny Murphy speculated whether Liverpool hierarchy might make another play for Guehi come January. “I think Guehi will be devastated. I’m sure Liverpool will go back in January,” he opined, highlighting the precariousness of Guehi’s career path following this transfer near-miss.
READ MORE ON GUEHI TRANSFER SAGA: