The summer transfer window is always full of drama, surprises and late twists, but few stories have captured attention in England like the one linking Liverpool with Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. For weeks, whispers have grown louder, negotiations have taken place behind closed doors, and journalists like Fabrizio Romano have teased fans with updates. Now, with the clock ticking down towards the September 1 deadline, Liverpool stand on the edge of completing a move that could reshape their backline for the 2025/26 season.
The Reds already have big names in defence. Virgil van Dijk remains the captain and the leader, Ibrahima Konaté is powerful and reliable when fit, Joe Gomez is versatile but inconsistent, and Giovanni Leoni is a young player with massive potential. On paper, it looks like Liverpool are strong in central defence. But football is not played on paper. Konaté and Gomez have both suffered from poor form and injuries. Van Dijk is still brilliant but cannot be expected to play every single game at the highest level forever. Leoni is still learning the ropes. For a team defending their Premier League crown and preparing to challenge in the Champions League, depth is not a luxury – it is a necessity. That is why Liverpool’s eyes have turned firmly to Guehi.
Marc Guehi is not just any defender. At Crystal Palace, he has built a reputation as one of the most reliable, composed and intelligent centre-backs in the league. Strong in duels, calm on the ball, and a natural leader, Guehi has shown qualities beyond his years. He is also an England international, proving his ability at the very highest level. For Liverpool, signing him would not just be about numbers, it would be about securing a defender who could play immediately, rotate with Van Dijk and Konaté, and perhaps one day take over as the cornerstone of the defence.
Fabrizio Romano, the man every football fan listens to when the transfer market goes crazy, has now reported that Liverpool are ready to push their offer beyond £30m to finalise the deal. More importantly, Guehi himself is said to be keen on the move. Personal terms are not an issue. The player wants to wear red, wants to play under Arne Slot, and wants to be part of the defending champions’ project. For Liverpool, the ball is now in Crystal Palace’s court.
The big question is whether Palace will give in. On one side of the argument, Palace face a huge risk if they say no. Guehi has no interest in extending his contract, which runs until the summer of 2026. If he stays this season and refuses to renew, he could walk away for free next year. Financially, that would be a disaster for Palace. Chairman Steve Parish has already hinted that selling now, while they can still demand a significant fee, is the smartest move. The logic is clear: cash in today, rebuild tomorrow.
On the other side, manager Oliver Glasner has been fighting hard to keep him. Just days ago, Glasner told reporters that Guehi “has to stay.” He explained that it was impossible to find a replacement of equal quality this late in the market, someone who could walk straight into the team and perform in the Premier League. His words were strong, defiant, and they reflected the frustration of a coach who knows losing his best defender on the eve of a new season could ruin his plans.
Palace’s situation has been made even more complicated by the loss of Eberechi Eze, who has already joined Arsenal. Losing another star would be another blow for the fans and the squad. Glasner’s tone was emotional, even desperate. “From my side,” he said, “he has to stay.” But in modern football, the words of the manager are not always final.
Behind the scenes, Palace have been preparing. They have agreed a £23m fee with Toulouse for Jaydee Canvot, a young defender considered by many to be Guehi’s long-term replacement. Canvot is highly rated but inexperienced. Even journalist Ben Jacobs admitted he is a signing for the future, not the present. If Guehi goes, Palace would be gambling heavily on youth and hoping experience is not missed too badly.
For Liverpool fans, Glasner’s words are seen as resistance that can eventually be broken. The key is money. If Liverpool are willing to push their offer above £30m, towards £35m or more, that could be decisive. Palace might be stubborn in public, but every club has its price. And with Guehi not willing to extend, and with the chance of losing him for free looming in a year’s time, the pressure on Palace to accept grows stronger with each passing day.
From the perspective of Guehi himself, the decision feels simple. At 25, he is ready to step up to a bigger stage. He has already achieved plenty with Palace, but the chance to play in the Champions League, to fight for Premier League titles, to work with Arne Slot and line up alongside Van Dijk, is too big to ignore. Fabrizio Romano has made it clear: Guehi wants Liverpool. The dream is there. Now it is about the clubs finding a middle ground.
The story has also attracted attention because of Manchester City. Reports have suggested Pep Guardiola might consider a late hijack, testing Liverpool’s resolve with their own move for Guehi. City have done it before, swooping in at the last minute to snatch players from under rivals’ noses. But this time, it seems Guehi’s heart is set. His preference is Liverpool, his mind is already turning towards Anfield. Unless City offer a truly irresistible package, the defender appears destined for Merseyside.
Fans have reacted passionately online. Some Liverpool supporters believe Guehi is exactly the type of signing needed – a young but experienced defender who can slot straight into the team. Others argue that the money might be better spent elsewhere, perhaps on another midfielder or a forward. But most agree that defensive depth has been an issue for years, and with Van Dijk aging and Konaté and Gomez unreliable, it is an area Liverpool must strengthen.
Crystal Palace fans, meanwhile, are torn between sadness and realism. Many don’t want to see their captain go. He has been their leader, their rock at the back, the symbol of a new era. Losing him feels like a betrayal. But others admit it makes sense. If he doesn’t want to renew, if the club can get £30-35m now, maybe it is smarter to sell and rebuild. Canvot’s arrival is seen as a step towards the future, though fans worry about losing too much experience too quickly.
The timing adds to the drama. The window is almost shut. Negotiations have reached their most critical phase. Fabrizio Romano’s updates come daily, each one sparking debates across social media. “Agreement done,” he says about personal terms, but the club-to-club approval is still pending. For Liverpool, it is a waiting game. For Palace, it is a decision that could define their season.
This story is also symbolic of how Liverpool are operating under Arne Slot. The Dutchman has already shown he values balance, intelligence, and depth in his squad. Guehi fits perfectly into that philosophy. He is not just a signing for now, he is a signing for the future. Liverpool want to remain champions, they want to dominate again in Europe, and to do that they cannot rely on the same old faces every week.
The whispers say Liverpool are confident. The whispers say Palace are softening. The whispers say Guehi will be holding a red shirt before long. But until the deal is announced, fans will not relax. Every deal has its risks. Every deal has its twists.
Crystal Palace are caught between two fires. If they keep Guehi, they keep strength in defence for one more year, but risk losing him for nothing. If they sell him now, they get money, but weaken themselves immediately. It is the type of decision that tests leadership, that tests ambition, that tests whether a club is thinking about today or tomorrow.
For Liverpool, patience is everything. They know the player wants them. They know personal terms are agreed. They know the pressure is on Palace. All they have to do is wait, push with money at the right moment, and strike. The game is psychological as much as financial.
And in all of this, the role of Fabrizio Romano is huge. His words, his updates, his famous “here we go” carry more weight than official club statements. Fans hang on every sentence. When Romano says Guehi wants Liverpool, supporters believe it as gospel. The transfer market in modern football is not just about deals – it is about the theatre created by journalists, insiders and leaks. Romano is the master of this theatre.
As deadline day looms, the Guehi story could still take new turns. Palace could dig in. Liverpool could walk away. City could test the waters. But right now, the path is clear: Guehi to Liverpool is closer than ever. Agreement on personal terms, player keen, Liverpool ready to pay, Palace under pressure. The pieces are on the board.
Football is often about moments. This could be Guehi’s moment to rise. This could be Liverpool’s moment to strengthen. This could be Palace’s moment to cash in and rebuild. In transfer windows, moments become history. And fans will remember where they were when the “here we go” finally dropped.
