Liverpool’s plans to strengthen their defence this summer may face a setback, with one of their key targets reportedly in no hurry to make a move.
According to The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, Marc Guehi is open to staying at Crystal Palace for the final year of his contract if the right opportunity doesn’t present itself. The 24-year-old, instrumental in Palace’s FA Cup win, has made it clear he won’t be signing a new deal, meaning he is available for transfer — but only under conditions that suit him.
This creates a challenge for Liverpool, who are weighing up a move for the England centre-back once Jarell Quansah completes his expected £30 million transfer to Bayer Leverkusen.
With a key defensive contributor potentially leaving, Liverpool are in need of reinforcements. However, Guehi is prioritising regular playing time as he looks to stay in Gareth Southgate’s plans ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
While joining Arne Slot’s side would offer the chance to fight for trophies, immediate starts might be limited due to the established partnership of Virgil van Dijk — who recently signed a new deal — and Ibrahima Konaté, despite the latter’s injury concerns and contract situation.
Liverpool have already added Florian Wirtz this summer and could look to further strengthen the defence, especially with Joe Gomez’s injury history and uncertainty around Konaté’s future. Still, The Guardian notes that Guehi won’t be pressured into a quick decision and is prepared to run down his contract.
That scenario could force Palace to consider lowering their £45m asking price to avoid losing him for free next year or through a pre-contract with a foreign club in January.
If Liverpool push forward with their interest, it remains to be seen whether the appeal of joining the Premier League champions will outweigh Guehi’s desire for guaranteed minutes.
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