Liverpool’s Missed Opportunity: The Guehi Transfer Saga

Liverpool’s unsuccessful attempt to acquire Marc Guehi has emerged as a pivotal narrative in their defensive strategy over the past year. The club believed they were on the verge of signing the Crystal Palace captain during the closing moments of the summer transfer window. However, the deal fell through when Palace opted against selling Guehi after failing to secure a replacement.

Reports indicated that Guehi had reached an agreement on personal terms and had begun preliminary medical assessments. Nevertheless, the London club refused to finalize the deal sheet once it became apparent that they were unable to acquire another defender.

This failure left Liverpool lacking the reinforcements they had targeted, particularly as they began a season fraught with uncertainties regarding Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation and fitness issues. The situation worsened following Giovanni Leoni’s season-ending injury shortly after the transfer deadline, amplifying the necessity of securing Guehi. Palace’s refusal to sanction the transfer ultimately forced Liverpool to rely on a limited group of center-back options throughout the campaign.

Frustration within Anfield has lingered, with club insiders recognizing that waiting until the final hours of the transfer window rendered them vulnerable to this unfortunate outcome.

Former Liverpool player Don Hutchison was straightforward in his evaluation of the failed transfer, asserting that the club bore full responsibility for not securing what he deemed an essential signing. In an interview with Sportscasting.com, he remarked, “They’ve blown their chances of landing him. One million percent. If Crystal Palace wanted £45 million, Liverpool should have simply offered £50 million, as they would be acquiring Marc Guehi for six years. They should have just paid the money.”

Hutchison emphasized how transformative the England international could have been for a squad already boasting significant leadership in defense. He compared Liverpool unfavorably to Arsenal, pointing out that players like Calafiori and Timber, alongside Saliba and Gabriel, provide a robust defensive lineup. He suggested that had Guehi joined Liverpool, he could play left-back, enhancing the team’s versatility with a defensive core of Konate, Van Dijk, Bradley, and Guehi.

He concluded that delaying such an investment has weakened Liverpool’s position for future negotiations. “Liverpool should have just met Palace’s asking price. It was a poor decision. They were too focused on signing Isak, which I understand, as you can’t turn that down, but Guehi needed to be a priority as well. This January should serve as a critical moment for Liverpool if they aim to secure a top-four finish.”

The collapse of the Guehi transfer is now viewed as even more detrimental considering the unique contract situation facing the defender as he approaches the final months of his tenure at Crystal Palace. His contract expires in June 2026, meaning that from January, he will be eligible to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside of England. This scenario places Liverpool at a significant disadvantage, as they will have to wait until summer to make a formal approach, while European giants like Bayern Munich and Barcelona are already positioning themselves as frontrunners, viewing Guehi as an elite and cost-effective acquisition.

Both clubs can offer substantial signing bonuses and the promise of early commitments, potentially swaying Guehi long before Liverpool can re-enter the fray. Reports suggest that Palace would prefer to lose Guehi for free rather than accept a diminished January fee, thereby placing the player in control of his next career move.

The failed summer transfer has also prompted scrutiny regarding Liverpool’s strategic planning under Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes. Their choice to delay prioritizing defensive reinforcements despite existing concerns regarding Konate’s contract and the aging nature of the squad is now met with regret. Liverpool recognizes that Guehi’s market value is steadily increasing, making what was once a plausible signing increasingly difficult to attain.

If Liverpool fails to secure Guehi again, they will be compelled to consider other major defensive targets. Names such as Alessandro Bastoni, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Willian Pacho are currently under observation, although each option presents financial and competitive challenges, underscoring why Guehi was initially perceived as the ideal candidate.