Liverpool hold the key to a Marc Guehi swap deal with Crystal Palace that could prove mutually beneficial for both clubs.

Liverpool may look to include one of their own players in a potential swap deal to secure Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi before the summer transfer window closes on September 1.

Despite already signing seven new players – Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, Armin Pecsi, Freddie Woodman, and Giorgi Mamardashvili – Liverpool are still active in the market.

They began their 2025/26 Premier League campaign strongly with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield. While their attacking strength was evident, defensive vulnerabilities were exposed, particularly with Antoine Semenyo scoring twice.

Those issues are partly due to the departure of Jarell Quansah, who joined Bayer Leverkusen earlier in the summer. Manager Arne Slot currently has just three natural centre-backs to rely on – Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and new arrival Giovanni Leoni. Midfielders Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch may be called on to provide emergency cover, while Rhys Williams, returning from a loan spell at Morecambe, is expected to leave amid EFL interest.

This makes Guehi, who brings valuable Premier League and international experience, an appealing target. However, negotiations remain complex.

BBC Sport journalist Sami Mokbel, speaking on Football Focus, indicated that while Guehi is open to a move, no agreement has yet been reached between the clubs. Guehi is expected to feature against Chelsea, after which talks are set to resume on Monday.

One possible factor in pushing the deal forward involves Crystal Palace’s situation. With attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze attracting interest from Arsenal and Spurs, Palace are preparing for his potential exit and have reportedly looked at Leicester’s Bilal El Khannouss as a replacement.

In this context, Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott could be used as part of a swap deal. Palace are thought to be interested in the young midfielder, whose future at Anfield is uncertain. Including Elliott in a player-plus-cash offer could satisfy both sides: Liverpool would bolster their defence with Guehi, while Palace would gain a talented replacement for Eze and a financial boost.

Elliott has also attracted interest from RB Leipzig, but a move to Palace as part of this deal could suit all parties involved.