Marc Guehi remains a target for Liverpool heading into 2026 and Crystal Palace appear to be anticipating a bid in January – with a hint that they may be willing to sell.
Guehi has put the frustration of a failed deadline-day move behind him to produce a stellar run of form for Palace in the first months of the new campaign.
But there remains speculation over the defender’s future, with it known that he intends to leave on the expiry of his contract at the end of the season.
Palace are, however, anticipating a possible bid from Liverpool in the January transfer window, with the Premier League champions seemingly given a clear run at signing him.
Only Liverpool expected to bid for Guehi
Sky Sports report that Liverpool are the only side Palace believe could make a move for Guehi mid-season, with his other suitors attracted to his availability on a free in the summer.
Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all touted with an interest, but it is Arne Slot‘s side who are considered to have the edge.
That comes with having already agreed a deal for Guehi at the end of the summer transfer window, with the player committed to joining the Reds to the point of undergoing a medical with a £35 million switch finalised.
Interestingly, Sky Sports’ report suggests that, despite pulling out of their agreement on deadline day, Palace could be more willing to sell in January.
Why Crystal Palace could sell Guehi in January
“Other than the possible departure of Guehi, Palace are not expecting any other key players to depart in January,” it is explained, “and they will look to replace Guehi whenever he leaves the club.”
That hints that, as was the case in the summer, so long as Palace can sign a suitable replacement for their captain they would be open to a deal.
Liverpool are short at centre-back following the season-ending ACL tear for Giovanni Leoni, leaving Slot with only Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez as specialist options.
Ryan Gravenberch, Andy Robertson and Wataru Endo are all capable of filling the void but none of those players are long-term solutions.
Liverpool’s need for another centre-back
With Gomez not viewed as a starter in either the Premier League or Champions League, that leaves Van Dijk and Konate as the only pairing – and the Frenchman will enter the final six months of his own contract on January 1.
If Liverpool were to move for Guehi mid-season it would be for a fee lower than the £35 million – plus a 10 percent sell-on clause – agreed in January.
And were they to clinch a deal for the 25-year-old they can be safe in the knowledge they would add another top-level centre-back who is unlikely to need any adjustment period.