Crystal Palace boss reveals Marc Guehi won’t renew contract after Liverpool deal breakdown
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has confirmed that Marc Guehi will leave the club after refusing to sign a new contract. The England defender was close to joining Liverpool on transfer deadline day before the move collapsed.
Guehi had been granted permission to complete a medical with Liverpool in London on September 1, but the deal fell through after Palace failed to secure a replacement. Brighton’s Igor Julio, their main target, opted to join West Ham on loan instead, forcing Palace to pull the plug on Guehi’s transfer.
As a result, the 25-year-old stayed at Selhurst Park, but Liverpool are expected to reignite their interest next summer when he becomes a free agent. Reports suggest Palace could look to cash in during the January window, with Glasner admitting that the player’s departure is inevitable.
“Marc has already told us he won’t sign a new contract, so he will leave next year,” Glasner said. “The club tried to keep him, but he wants a new challenge. Now we just have to handle the situation in the best possible way.”
Liverpool remain keen on the defender, though their position after the summer window was not to revisit the deal in January. That stance could change following the serious injury to Giovanni Leoni.
From January 1, Guehi will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Liverpool all reportedly interested.
Palace chairman Steve Parish explained that the decision to keep Guehi for the club’s maiden European campaign played a key role. “It was a tough call,” he told talkSPORT. “We felt we’d have a better season with Marc. Given the value of staying in the Premier League and competing in Europe for the first time, it made sense to keep him.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool — who have also been linked with Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck — return to Premier League action on Sunday against arch-rivals Manch
ester United.