Liverpool fans had already started dreaming. The thought of Marc Guehi walking out at Anfield in the famous red shirt felt so close on deadline day that many could almost touch it. The 25-year-old Crystal Palace defender had passed his Liverpool medical, the paperwork was ready, and a £35 million deal had been struck between the two clubs. But then, in dramatic fashion, the transfer collapsed. Palace pulled the plug at the very last moment, leaving Guehi stunned and Liverpool furious. Now, weeks later, the story has taken another twist—because Bayern Munich are preparing to test Liverpool’s resolve by entering the race for Guehi on a free transfer next summer.
This story is not just about one transfer. It is about the politics of football, the desperation of clubs to hold onto their stars, the rise of a defender who has quietly become one of the most reliable in England, and the looming fear that Liverpool might miss out on him forever.
It all began on that crazy deadline day in September. Guehi, who had been tracked by Liverpool for more than a year, was given permission to undergo his medical with the Reds after a £35 million fee was agreed. Everything seemed set. Guehi himself was excited, ready to take the next step in his career, and Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot believed he was the perfect signing to strengthen a backline that already had Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté. But football is rarely that simple. Palace manager Oliver Glasner stormed into heated discussions with club owner Steve Parish. Glasner begged Parish not to let Guehi leave, warning that Palace had failed to secure a suitable replacement. After hours of tense talks, Parish backed his manager. Liverpool were told the deal was off. Guehi, who had been waiting for confirmation, was left hanging. The dream of Anfield was snatched away from him in brutal fashion.
For Liverpool fans, it felt like yet another transfer heartbreak. This was not the first time a deal collapsed at the last minute, and losing out on Guehi hurt because the club’s defensive depth has often been tested by injuries. For Guehi, it was even worse. He had already imagined himself walking through the Shankly Gates, hearing You’ll Never Walk Alone, and battling for Premier League and Champions League glory. Instead, he returned to Selhurst Park, where the fans still loved him but where his ambitions had clearly outgrown the club.
Yet, to Guehi’s credit, he did not sulk. Instead, he responded in the best way possible—by performing brilliantly for club and country. In England’s recent World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia, Guehi was a rock at the back. He even scored his first senior international goal in the 5-0 demolition of Serbia, showing his leadership and confidence on the big stage. England manager Gareth Southgate praised him heavily, and pundits began to speak of him as a future leader in the Three Lions defense.
While Liverpool were left licking their wounds, Bayern Munich quietly began circling. The German giants are experts at snapping up top talents, especially when contracts are running down. Guehi’s Palace deal expires at the end of the 2025-26 season, which means that by January, he will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any club outside England. Bayern see an opportunity to swoop in without paying a transfer fee, something they have done many times before with great success.
German reporter Christian Falk has revealed that Guehi is firmly on Bayern’s shortlist. He explained that Bayern considered signing him this summer but pulled back because of the fee involved. Now, with the transfer window closed, they are willing to watch how their current defenders perform before making a decision. If they choose to move on from Kim Min-jae or feel the need for another option, Guehi could become a top target. Alongside Guehi, RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba is also on their radar, but the fact that Falk specifically named Guehi shows how highly he is rated in Munich.
For Liverpool, this is a nightmare scenario. They had Guehi in their hands just a few weeks ago, only for Palace’s late intervention to destroy the deal. Now, instead of waiting until next summer to pick him up on a free transfer, they could find themselves in a bidding war with Bayern Munich—one of the most powerful clubs in world football. The thought of Guehi playing at the Allianz Arena in Bayern’s famous red and white, instead of Liverpool’s red, is something that terrifies Anfield supporters.
The rivalry between Liverpool and Bayern adds even more spice to the story. The two clubs have clashed in Europe before, and Bayern have often been successful at luring players away from the Premier League or beating English clubs to signings. Losing Guehi to Bayern would not only be a sporting blow but also a pride-denting moment for Liverpool’s transfer team, who had worked tirelessly to secure him this summer.
The timing of this saga also makes it more painful. Liverpool are in a season of transition under Arne Slot. After the departure of Jurgen Klopp, Slot has been tasked with building a new era, blending experienced stars like Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold with emerging talents like Jarell Quansah and Stefan Bajcetic. Defense remains one of the most important areas, especially as Van Dijk gets older and injuries continue to disrupt consistency. Guehi was supposed to be the solution, the long-term partner for Konaté and the leader of Liverpool’s next generation. Without him, the plan feels incomplete.
Meanwhile, Guehi’s value continues to rise. Every strong performance for Palace or England pushes him further into the spotlight. Palace fans adore him and were delighted when the club blocked his Liverpool move, but they also know deep down that his future lies elsewhere. He is too ambitious, too talented, and too hungry for trophies to stay at a club fighting for mid-table survival. The question is not whether he will leave—it is where he will go.
The irony is that Guehi’s failed Liverpool move may have made him even more desirable. By staying at Palace a little longer, he has the chance to show resilience and prove that he can handle disappointment without losing focus. That mentality will only attract elite clubs like Bayern and Liverpool even more.
Behind the scenes, Liverpool are unlikely to give up. They know Guehi wants the move, and they believe Anfield is the perfect place for him to grow into one of the world’s best defenders. But the Bayern threat is real. German clubs often move quickly and decisively in the free-transfer market, and if they put a strong offer in front of Guehi in January, Liverpool could lose him before they even have a chance to act.
This is why Liverpool’s recruitment team is already preparing. They may have to convince Guehi directly of the Anfield project, showing him that he can become a key figure in Slot’s rebuilding era. They may also need to push Palace one more time in January, perhaps offering a reduced fee to secure him early before Bayern can make their move.
For Guehi himself, the decision will be one of the biggest of his career. Choosing between Liverpool and Bayern is not easy. Liverpool offer him the chance to stay in the Premier League, play in front of the most passionate fans in England, and become a central figure in one of the world’s biggest clubs. Bayern, on the other hand, guarantee trophies almost every season, dominate the Bundesliga, and regularly reach the final stages of the Champions League.
As things stand, the story is far from over. What is clear, however, is that Liverpool’s failed transfer for Guehi has created one of the biggest sagas of the season. Every game he plays for Palace, every appearance he makes for England, will now be watched closely—not just by Liverpool, but also by Bayern Munich and perhaps other European giants waiting to pounce.
What began as a routine deadline-day signing has turned into a dramatic battle across borders. Guehi’s future hangs in the balance, and Liverpool must fight harder than ever to ensure he does not slip away again. For now, all they can do is wait and hope that when the time comes, Marc Guehi chooses the roar of the Kop over the pull of the Allianz Arena.
