Liverpool’s Pursuit of Marc Guehi Stalls as Crystal Palace Rejects ‘Insulting’ Offers
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Liverpool Football Club, fresh off a Premier League title win, is aggressively reshaping its squad this summer. However,their efforts to bolster their defense with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi have hit a snag,with initial bids reportedly falling well short of the Eagles’ valuation.
Liverpool have been incredibly active in this summer’s transfer window, already securing the signings of Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike. Manager Arne Slot is reportedly seeking further reinforcements before the transfer window closes, with Alexander Isak among the targets. But Guehi, a 24-year-old England international, has emerged as a key priority.
Guehi’s Contract Situation Fuels Transfer Speculation
Marc Guehi has entered the final year of his contract at Crystal Palace, making a potential move this summer increasingly likely. It is indeed widely believed that the defender is unlikely to sign a contract extension with his current club, opening the door for interest from several Premier League rivals. According to reports, newcastle United remains interested in acquiring Guehi, but Liverpool have been the most proactive suitor thus far.
Liverpool’s Bids Deemed ‘Insulting’ by Crystal Palace
Foot Mercato has reported that Liverpool submitted two offers for Guehi in recent weeks, but both were swiftly rejected by Crystal Palace. A source close to the negotiations indicated that the bids were considered “insulting†by Oliver Glasner’s side, signaling a significant gap in valuation.
Crystal Palace is reportedly demanding a fee of €55 million (£48 million) for their star defender. However, Liverpool appears hesitant to meet that price tag, creating a stalemate in negotiations. It remains to be seen whether Newcastle or another club will be willing to approach Palace’s demands before the transfer window closes on September 1st.
Could Liverpool Adopt Real Madrid’s Free Transfer Strategy?
Liverpool fans recently expressed frustration as Trent Alexander-Arnold completed a move to Real Madrid. However, the club could now leverage a similar tactic in their pursuit of Guehi. Real Madrid has become renowned for securing high-profile players on free transfers – including Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Kylian Mbappe, and now Alexander-Arnold – a strategy that has proven remarkably effective.
Given that Guehi will be available on a free transfer in less than 12 months, one analyst suggested that paying £48 million now “doesn’t make a lot of sense.†Instead, Liverpool could adopt a patient approach, allowing Guehi’s contract to expire and then pouncing next summer to secure his services without a transfer fee.
