Crystal Palace change stance on star Marc Guehi transfer

Crystal Palace decided against selling their captain, Marc Guehi, to the reigning Premier League champions Liverpool, with the Eagles pulling out of the deal late in the summer transfer window to keep the star defender at Selhurst Park for another season.

Guehi, who has just a year left on his contract, was linked with a £35 million move to Arne Slot’s side, and giving assurances that they will be back to sign the 25-year-old in the coming window.

However, since the failed move to Anfield, several top teams have also shown interest in signing the English international for free – his contract expires in the summer of the 2025/26 season.

Chelsea have been linked with the centre-back, who came through their academy, alongside Bundesliga giants such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and reigning La Liga champions Barcelona.

However, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has hinted that the club would prefer to lose Guehi for nothing at the end of the season, rather than sell him in the January transfer window.

“We needed to keep Marc because the difference between us having a stellar season and having a relegation-threatened season is us winning five games or not,” Parish told Men in Blazers.

“So the margins in the Premier League are very tight and you have to remember that Michael [Olise] has gone, we’re OK, Ebbs (Eberechi Eze) has gone, we’re OK, Wilfred [Zaha] went, we’re OK.

“There’s a limit to how much you can keep doing that before you break down the fabric of the team.”

Guehi had been all set to leave for Liverpool before the Eagles changed their minds on selling their captain without being able to find a replacement.

Bayern and the Spanish clubs have the advantage of being able to speak to Guehi in January about a free transfer in July.

Indications are that Palace may not be interested in earning a fee in January and would rather have Guehi’s services until the end of the 2025/26 campaign.