Liverpool late deadline day move revealed as next transfer opportunity emerges

Liverpool’s transfer business in the summer window looked like the kind of story you would only see in a football film. The Reds signed eight new players, reshaping the squad completely under new head coach Arne Slot, and ended deadline day with one of the biggest transfers in Premier League history. But as every Liverpool fan knows, behind the scenes there were other dramas, other deals that almost happened, and decisions that could still shape the future of the club. Now, new details have emerged about what really went down on deadline day, and what comes next for the Reds.

The final signing of the window was Alexander Isak, the Swedish striker Liverpool brought in from Newcastle United in a record-breaking £125 million deal. The move sent shockwaves through the football world, proving once again that Liverpool are ready to spend big when they believe in a player. But while Isak was the headline act, he was not the only name being thrown around Anfield in those tense final hours of the window.

The Reds were also in deep talks to sign Marc Guehi, the captain of Crystal Palace and one of the most admired defenders in the league. A £35 million deal was agreed, Guehi even underwent a medical in London, and Liverpool fans began dreaming of him lining up alongside Virgil van Dijk. But in dramatic fashion, Palace boss Oliver Glasner pulled the plug at the last minute, refusing to let his captain leave without a replacement. The Guehi deal collapsed right at the finish line, leaving Liverpool frustrated but still hopeful that the move could be revived in the future.

Now, it has been revealed that Guehi was not the only deadline day twist. According to fresh reports, Joe Gomez, one of Liverpool’s longest-serving defenders, was also on the brink of leaving Anfield. AC Milan were circling, Brighton were interested, and Gomez could have walked away from the club he has been with since 2015. In fact, sources suggest the deal was close enough that Gomez’s future hung in the balance right up until the window slammed shut.

For fans, this news hits differently. Gomez has been through everything at Liverpool — the highs of winning the Champions League and Premier League under Jurgen Klopp, the lows of devastating injuries that almost ended his career, and the fight to win his place back in the squad. He has become part of the Anfield fabric, and the thought of him in an AC Milan or Brighton shirt feels strange. But football is ruthless, and Gomez has often been on the fringes of the starting XI. For a player in his prime years, the temptation of a fresh start abroad is very real.

What makes it even more interesting is that some reports suggest Gomez could still end up at Crystal Palace in the near future, especially if Liverpool finally land Marc Guehi. Palace would need a replacement, and Gomez could fit the bill perfectly. That means this story is not finished. Instead, Liverpool fans might be watching one of their own leave as part of the long game to secure Guehi.

The next big opportunity for Liverpool to sign Guehi will be the January transfer window. But there is a catch. The Times has already reported that Liverpool are unlikely to move in January. The Reds may instead wait until the summer when Guehi’s contract situation puts Palace under pressure. That delay could prove costly — rivals like Manchester United, Arsenal, and even Chelsea are monitoring the defender. If Liverpool wait too long, they might lose him.

At the same time, Liverpool did not leave the window empty-handed in defence. The Reds sanctioned Jarell Quansah’s surprising move to Bayer Leverkusen, showing they were ready to make bold decisions with their younger players. In his place, they brought in Giovanni Leoni from Parma. The 18-year-old Italian centre-back is 6ft 5in, commanding in the air, and highly rated across Europe. Inter Milan wanted him. Newcastle even made an official bid. But Leoni only wanted Liverpool, and when the call came, he reportedly said “yes” immediately.

This signing is being seen as a glimpse of Liverpool’s long-term vision. Leoni may not be a regular starter straight away, but he is viewed as a player who can develop into one of the best defenders in the world. Slot, along with sporting director Richard Hughes, has built a squad with a balance of proven stars like Isak and Florian Wirtz, and young talents like Leoni who can grow into leaders of the future.

Still, the missed Guehi signing lingers like an open wound. Liverpool fans had already imagined him in red, and seeing the deal collapse hurt. The idea that Gomez was almost leaving at the same time makes it even more dramatic — as if Liverpool were seconds away from a complete defensive reshuffle. Instead, Guehi remains at Palace, Gomez remains at Anfield, and the whole saga has been pushed into the future.

And the story does not stop there. Transfer gossip has already linked Liverpool with other defenders as alternatives to Guehi. Some reports suggest the Reds could look at a surprise £51 million option, while others claim they are bracing for a five-club war for Guehi’s signature. In the chaos of modern football, nothing is ever simple.

What is certain is that Liverpool’s squad value has skyrocketed thanks to the arrivals of Isak and Wirtz. Analysts say the squad is now worth over £100 million more than it was at the start of the summer. Slot has the tools to defend the Premier League title, but he knows more work lies ahead. Defence will remain a key focus, and the Guehi-Gomez-Leoni storyline could define the next year.

For now, Liverpool fans can only watch and wait. They have their new striker, they have their new playmaker, and they have a manager eager to prove himself. But in the background, the drama of Guehi and Gomez is simmering. Will Gomez stay loyal, or will he leave in January? Will Guehi finally walk through the doors of Anfield, or will Liverpool regret waiting too long?

Deadline day gave Liverpool one of the biggest signings in Premier League history. But it also gave them near misses, heartbreak, and the kind of drama that makes football the most unpredictable sport in the world. And with January just around the corner, the stage is already set for the next chapter.