Center back Marc Guehi was still on the payroll of Crystal Palace after the £35 million transfer deal to Liverpool broke out at the last minute.
Both clubs have agreed on a fee and the defender even completed a medical check-up at Liverpool on Monday (UK time). However, the reigning FA Cup champions have unexpectedly withdrawn. The reason is that they have not found a suitable replacement when Igor Julio decided to join West Ham instead of Palace.
Although Palace have signed Jaydee Canvot, a 19-year-old player, he is not ready to replace Guehi immediately. This means the Palace captain will have to wait for a move, expected within the next 12 months.
By giving up the £35 million fee, Palace face the risk of losing Guehi to Liverpool next summer when his contract at Selhurst Park expires. However, the club could still sell him in the winter transfer window if the Reds still want to pay.
The main reason for the shortage of deals is that Palace have not found a suitable replacement in a short time. They accept the prospect of losing their captain for free in the near future, as long as they can recover a reasonable fee and find an additional option.
Therefore, if Palace take advantage of the next 4 to 5 months to survey the market and determine the right centre-back targets for the January transfer window, they can completely sell Guehi at a high price again. This will open up an opportunity for coach Arne Slot's team to enter the race.
It should be noted that any transfer fee for Guehi in January will be significantly reduced from the £35 million recently agreed. Because in fact, he only has 6 months left on his contract with Palace.
However, if Liverpool decide to risk waiting until the summer of 2026 to sign Guehi for free, they will be at risk of losing him in January. When entering the last 6 months of the contract, players are allowed to sign a pre-agreement with foreign clubs, joining for free from July 1.
Liverpool will not enjoy this advantage, as the 6-month rule only applies to teams outside England. In the country, a club cannot sign a contract with a player currently playing for another club until the last month of the contract.
Therefore, Liverpool will have to make a decision. Will they pursue a low-cost deal for Guehi in January or accept a postponement of recruitment until June next year?
According to British media, it is noteworthy that Guehi has never expressed any opposition or refused to play. He is still expected to give his all to Palace in his final season before leaving on a free transfer.
This is considered a very positive attitude, showing Guehi's respect for the London club. Despite missing the Anfield appointment, this player is certainly still a sought-after name when leaving on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Even since the 2026 winter transfer window, Guehi has been able to negotiate with the new destination as mentioned above.
Liverpool are expected to return to the negotiation table, while Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also keeping an eye on the former Chelsea player.
