Liverpool have made a new offer for Marc Guéhi of £35million and a 10 per cent sell-on clause, with Crystal Palace seeking a £40million package.
Discussions between the clubs restarted on Saturday, with Liverpool telling Palace that their hopes of taking Joe Gomez on loan as a makeweight in a deal for Guéhi would not happen.
Guéhi, 25, has been a summer-long target for the Premier League champions, who indicated they would be willing to pay £35million for the England centre back during talks between their sporting director, Richard Hughes, and the Palace chairman, Steve Parish, in the days after the Community Shield.
Saturday’s second bid includes the addition of a 10 per cent sell-on clause, which is designed to persuade Palace to let Guéhi leave before Monday’s transfer deadline. The London club are holding out for £35million, plus £5million in add-ons.
Liverpool have ruled out the prospect of Gomez joining Palace on loan as part of the deal
PETER POWELL/REUTERS
While Parish has said that Palace cannot afford to let Guéhi, who has entered the final year of his contract and will not sign a new deal, leave for nothing, the club’s manager, Oliver Glasner, has said that the centre back cannot leave without reinforcements.
Toulouse’s Jaydee Canvot, 19, is of interest for Palace but Glasner wants more experienced recruits.
That prompted Parish to propose a loan deal for Gomez, 28, but Liverpool ruled that out as a non-starter, citing the versatility of the defender who has played across the back line in recent seasons.
There is a chance that Liverpool would consider allowing Gomez to leave permanently, although they would still have reservations. AC Milan have shown an interest in the defender, who has two years left on his deal at Anfield.
Glasner, the Palace manager, has said Guéhi will not be allowed to leave without suitable reinforcements
THOMAS ANDERSEN/NTB VIA REUTERS
Palace travel to Aston Villa on Sunday evening for their next Premier League game and, as it stands, Guéhi is scheduled to be involved.
The defender wants to join Liverpool and it remains to be seen if he will travel. Unless there is a resolution before Monday’s 7pm deadline, he is prepared to leave on a free transfer next summer, with Palace having had the best part of a month to resolve his future.
Liverpool, meanwhile, retain an interest in Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak but will not go as high as £130million for the Sweden international.
A £110million bid was rejected on August 1. Isak only wants to move to Anfield and Liverpool will not bid against themselves in the belief that a figure of about £120million is a fair price for the player.
Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo has signed a new, long-term contract at the club.