Liverpool failed in their attempts to sign Marc Guehi over the summer but their interest remains, however a deal with Crystal Palace in January is viewed as unlikely.
Guehi was poised to join Arne Slot‘s side on deadline day with a £35 million deal agreed, only for Palace to pull the plug late on.
The centre-back has restored his focus to the club he captains and has started all but one game across the Premier League, UEFA Conference League, Carabao Cup and against Liverpool in the Community Shield.
With the January transfer window approaching, however, speculation over a mid-season move to Anfield will increase.
Liverpool still interested in Marc Guehi
But according to The Athletic‘s Gregg Evans, the chances of Liverpool signing Guehi next month are seen as “slim” for a variety of factors.
That includes:
• Crystal Palace‘s new valuation: agreed on £35m plus a 10% sell-on clause in September
• Whether Liverpool would be willing to meet that, knowing Guehi will be free in the summer
• Guehi’s knowledge that he would benefit more financially from a free transfer
• A guaranteed starting role at Palace boosting his World Cup credentials
Of course a departure to Liverpool is still not ruled out, with Sky Sports reporting last month that they are the only side viewed as possible contenders for a deal in January.
Liverpool want a centre-back; boosted by Real Madrid
Either way it is clear that Liverpool want to sign a new centre-back, whether that is in January or more likely next summer.
That comes with Ibrahima Konate‘s future yet to be resolved and Joe Gomez expected to move on when the opportunity presents itself, having attracted interest from AC Milan in the summer.
Giovanni Leoni is currently ruled out until late 2026 after tearing his ACL, leaving 34-year-old Virgil van Dijk as the only settled option in the position.
If Liverpool do push to sign Guehi at the end of the campaign they would almost certainly face competition from a number of clubs in the Premier League and abroad.
But interestingly, The Athletic’s Mario Cortegana reports that, despite links with the Spanish giants, Guehi is “not a priority” for Real Madrid at present.
Real Madrid have also informed Liverpool that they have no interest in signing Konate despite the Frenchman’s impending status as a free agent.
Liverpool could feasibly look to tie Konate down to a new long-term contract while also signing Guehi in either a cut-price deal in January or for free in the summer.
That would solve the centre-back position for the long term, with Konate, Guehi and Leoni all top-level options as Van Dijk nears the twilight of his career.