Market value: €45 million
©IMAGO
Liverpool’s hectic summer transfer window encountered a setback on deadline day as Marc Guéhi, the captain of Crystal Palace, saw his transfer to Anfield canceled despite having successfully completed his medical for the club. An agreement on a €40.4 million transfer was reached before the 7 p.m. deadline, and an offer sheet was submitted on time to allow Liverpool to register the player. Guéhi was also set to sign a five-year contract extending to 2030. Although he has just one year left on his contract at Selhurst Park, Palace manager Oliver Glasner was hesitant to let him go, even with the risk of losing him for free next summer.
Glasner’s wish has been fulfilled as the transfer was ultimately called off due to Palace’s inability to secure a replacement. This marks the end of a prolonged transfer saga. Earlier this month, Liverpool had discussions regarding the defender, but no consensus was reached as Guéhi wanted guarantees about his playing time ahead of next year’s World Cup. In Palace’s recent 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, Guéhi played the entire match and contributed a stunning second goal. “He’s very professional, and it was evident he would play today,” said Glasner in his post-match press conference.
“I clearly communicated to the chairman that we must retain Marc for a successful season.” Glasner got his wish, and the skipper will remain with the club. For Liverpool, this represents the lone blemish on an otherwise successful transfer summer. The club is poised to announce the signing of Alexander Isak in a record Premier League deal today, bringing their spending close to €500 million upon completion. Despite the cancellation of the Guehi deal, this summer’s transfer window is still poised to be a record spend, surpassing the €464 million Chelsea spent during their 2023 spending spree.
