Marc Guehi is reportedly considering a major change of plans, backing away from what was once seen as a dream transfer to Liverpool after his deadline day move to Anfield fell through.
The England centre-back had been expected to leave Crystal Palace during the summer window, as he entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park.
The 25-year-old, who recently helped Palace win both the FA Cup and Community Shield, was on the verge of joining the Premier League champions. A deal worth £35 million plus add-ons had been agreed between the two clubs, and Guehi was poised to complete the switch on deadline day.
However, the move collapsed when Palace were unable to secure a replacement before the transfer window closed, prompting the club to cancel the deal.
This now leaves Palace with just the January transfer window as their final opportunity to cash in on Guehi. If they fail to sell him then, he will be free to leave next summer when his contract expires. That opens the door for a possible free transfer to Liverpool in 2026—if the club remains interested.
But Liverpool may no longer be Guehi’s preferred destination. According to the Daily Mirror, the defender has reportedly told his representatives that he now favours a move to Real Madrid instead.
Real, managed by Xabi Alonso, are said to be keen on Guehi and hold an advantage over Liverpool: under FIFA rules, foreign clubs can negotiate pre-contracts with Premier League players six months before their deals end. That means Madrid could secure an agreement with Guehi as early as January.
The Mirror reports: “Guehi’s number one choice is to move to the Bernabéu and reject Liverpool, despite being extremely close to joining them on September 1. He is excited by the idea of playing abroad for the Spanish giants.”
Should he move to Real Madrid, Guehi would be joining up with fellow England stars Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold in the Spanish capital. Alexander-Arnold made his own high-profile move from Liverpool earlier this summer, with Madrid paying to release him a month early so he could take part in the FIFA Club World Cup.
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