The summer transfer window’s final hours brought Reds fans to the edge of their seats. Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace’s steadfast captain, had arrived on Merseyside, medical ticked off, a £35 million deal seemingly sealed. Then, poof—it vanished, leaving Liverpool to ponder what might have been.
Fast forward to this festive period, and the 25-year-old England international remains a tantalising prospect for Arne Slot’s side. Yet, the latest whispers suggest any January swoop is off the cards. Palace boss Oliver Glasner has poured cold water on speculation, insisting Guehi will see out his contract at Selhurst Park, which runs until June 2026.
“I think Marc will stay and play until the end of the season,” Glasner told reporters earlier this week. “That’s my understanding right now, nobody told me something different. I know there is no offer right now, so why expect something different?” His words, drawn from a pre-match presser covered by BBC Sport and Sky Sports, underline Palace’s resolve amid their surprise push up the table.
And why wouldn’t they hold firm? Palace sit fifth in the Premier League after 16 games, with a miserly defence conceding just 15 goals—boasting a +5 goal difference that outshines many above them. Guehi has been pivotal, captaining the side in 15 league outings, chipping in two goals and two assists from centre-back, while racking up 27 tackles, 16 interceptions, and winning 42 aerial duels, per Opta data via FBref. His composure on the ball and leadership have helped Palace over-perform, even as they juggle UEFA Conference League duties.
Liverpool, meanwhile, could use that steel. Slot’s men linger in seventh, with eight wins but a leaky backline that’s shipped 24 goals in 16 matches—1.5 per game. Clean sheets? Just five. Injuries haven’t helped: Ibrahima Konaté’s deal also expires in 2026, and recent knocks to Joe Gomez have exposed vulnerabilities. Slot, ever pragmatic, addressed the transfer buzz head-on.
“The outside world wants to believe we have unlimited money but that is not true,” he said in his latest press conference, as reported by Liverpoolfc.com. “But we are still able to win.” It’s a nod to fiscal caution, yet the Guehi link persists—no agreement reached, as journalist Christian Falk noted on his CFBayernInsider podcast: “There’s still yet no agreement between Marc Guehi and Liverpool. So, many clubs are making contact. Bayern, for instance, had contact in the past.”
Guehi’s quality screams top club: an England regular, his blend of pace, reading, and distribution fits Slot’s high-line ethos perfectly. A pre-contract from January could bag him for free in summer, a bargain amid his £50 million-plus valuation. But with no winter bid on the table, Liverpool must bide their time.
Bayern’s interest adds spice, especially if Dayot Upamecano departs, and Guehi craves trophies. For now, though, Palace’s upturn keeps him grounded.