It was one of the most talked-about sagas of the entire summer — the story that dragged through the transfer window, filled headlines, and ended in heartbreak for Liverpool fans. Marc Guehi, one of the Premier League’s most admired young defenders, was just minutes away from becoming a Liverpool player before everything collapsed in dramatic fashion on deadline day. Now, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has finally explained what really happened behind the scenes and why the £35 million move that seemed inevitable fell apart at the last moment.
For weeks, Liverpool supporters had believed that Guehi’s signing was a matter of “when,” not “if.” After months of scouting, negotiation, and meetings, the 24-year-old England international had reportedly undergone his medical and was set to be unveiled as Arne Slot’s final defensive reinforcement of the summer. Liverpool needed him. With Ibrahima Konaté’s future uncertain and Virgil van Dijk entering the final stages of his career, Guehi was viewed as the ideal successor — young, composed, Premier League-proven, and ready to fit perfectly into Slot’s new system.
But as the clock ticked toward the deadline, a strange silence took over. The Liverpool camp waited for Palace’s final approval, while Palace’s management held tense discussions of their own. And then, in a stunning twist, the deal was off. The announcement never came. Guehi remained a Crystal Palace player, and Liverpool were left scrambling for explanations.
Now, speaking on *TalkSport*, Steve Parish has finally revealed the truth. “It was a difficult decision,” the Palace chairman admitted. “These things are never black and white. I decided in the end that, based on the advice I got and what I thought was best, we would have a better season if we kept Marc.”
It wasn’t about money, Parish insisted — it was about ambition. Crystal Palace, for the first time in their history, had qualified for European competition. They were preparing for their maiden journey in the UEFA Conference League, and their strong start to the Premier League season had lifted them into the top four in the early weeks. Selling their best defender, even for £35 million, could have destroyed that momentum.
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“If you look at it rationally,” Parish continued, “you realise what the worth is of every single Premier League place. We’re in the Conference League for the first time ever — it’s a special moment for the club. If we were sitting somewhere between 10th and 14th, maybe we’d have said, fine, we’ll take the money. But this was different. This was history for us.”
Behind that calm explanation, however, was a storm of emotion and conflict. According to reports, Palace manager Oliver Glasner had threatened to walk away if Guehi was sold. Glasner, who had transformed Palace into one of the league’s surprise packages, believed that losing his defensive leader on deadline day would destroy their season. He made his feelings clear to the club’s board — and Parish listened.
For Liverpool, it was devastating news. Guehi had been handpicked by Arne Slot and the club’s new sporting director, Richard Hughes, as a cornerstone of the team’s rebuild. With the club balancing both Premier League and European commitments, depth at centre-back was seen as crucial. Guehi’s blend of leadership, technical quality, and positional intelligence made him the perfect fit for Liverpool’s evolving defensive line.
The deal had been so close to completion that Guehi had already completed his medical tests and begun preliminary discussions about life at Anfield. He had even, according to insiders, spoken privately with England teammates like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez about joining the club. Everything pointed to success — until that last-minute call from Parish changed everything.
Palace’s decision wasn’t purely emotional. Financially, it made sense too. The chairman pointed out that each position in the Premier League table can be worth millions of pounds, and the exposure and prize money from European competition add even more value. Selling Guehi might have brought in £35 million upfront, but the potential earnings from European qualification and a strong league finish could easily surpass that. “We had to think long term,” Parish said. “We had to think about what was best for the club, the fans, and the players.”
Still, there was a risk involved. By refusing to sell Guehi, Palace knew they were gambling with his future. The defender’s contract runs out at the end of the season, and reports suggest he has no intention of renewing. That means Palace could lose him for free next summer — a major financial blow for a club that has traditionally relied on smart player sales to sustain growth.
Yet Parish seemed prepared for that outcome. “Sometimes you have to make decisions for football reasons, not financial ones,” he said. “We know what Marc means to this team. We know what he brings in leadership, calmness, and belief. If we get another great season from him and achieve our goals, that will be worth every penny.”
The fallout from the failed transfer has been felt across both clubs. At Liverpool, there was clear disappointment. Inside the AXA Training Centre, sources described a mood of quiet frustration. The club had spent weeks negotiating, balancing Financial Fair Play limits, and restructuring their defensive targets to prioritise Guehi. To see it collapse at the last moment left many feeling blindsided.
Arne Slot, however, chose diplomacy over anger. Speaking after the transfer window closed, he simply said, “In football, things don’t always go the way you expect. We move on. We have great defenders here, and we will work with what we have.” But behind those calm words, there was no denying the sense of missed opportunity.
Liverpool’s defensive depth has already been tested early in the season. Injuries to key players and the intense fixture schedule have forced Slot to rotate more than he would like. Guehi’s presence could have provided exactly the kind of stability the team has been missing at times. His ability to play from the back, combined with his calm decision-making, fits perfectly into Slot’s vision of possession-based football.
Fans, too, have struggled to let go of the “what ifs.” Many took to social media to express their frustration, questioning why Liverpool didn’t push harder or have backup options ready. “We can’t keep missing out on players because of last-minute changes,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “We knew Guehi was key, and we let it slip again.” Others praised Palace for standing firm, calling it a bold decision that showed ambition.
For Crystal Palace supporters, the summer ended with mixed emotions. While they celebrated keeping their star defender, there was also a sense of uncertainty about what comes next. Guehi’s contract situation looms large, and with manager Oliver Glasner reportedly set to depart at the end of the season, the club faces another period of transition. Still, for now, they have stability, and in football, that can be priceless.
Palace’s gamble seems to be paying off — at least in the short term. Despite a recent defeat to Everton that dropped them from fourth to sixth in the table, the team remains competitive, playing exciting football and competing strongly in the Conference League. For a club that was once a relegation battler, this is new territory.
As for Guehi himself, he has handled the situation with quiet professionalism. There have been no public complaints or transfer requests, no sulking, no controversy. He continues to play every game with the same intensity and focus, leading by example on the pitch. Those close to him say he remains grateful to Palace for the faith they’ve shown but is also aware that his next step will likely come at the end of the season.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are keeping a close eye on the situation. Sources inside Anfield say the club has not given up hope of signing Guehi, whether in January or as a free agent next summer. They see him as a long-term solution and are prepared to wait for the right moment.
This story — of an almost-transfer, a chairman’s gamble, and a club’s ambition — highlights just how unpredictable modern football can be. A deal that seemed done can collapse in minutes; a player who was ready to move can suddenly become a symbol of loyalty. It’s a reminder that beyond the numbers and negotiations, football remains a game driven by emotion, timing, and bold decisions.
For Steve Parish and Crystal Palace, the choice to keep Marc Guehi might define their season. If they qualify for Europe again, it will go down as a masterstroke. If they slip and lose him for free, critics will call it a costly mistake. Either way, it’s a decision that took courage — and in football, courage often decides who rises and who falls.
For Liverpool, the search continues. Arne Slot’s vision for the future still includes new defensive leaders, and Guehi’s name remains on that list. Whether fate brings the two sides together again remains to be seen, but for now, one thing is clear: the Guehi saga isn’t over. It’s just waiting for its next chapter.
And somewhere in South London, as Crystal Palace chase European dreams, and somewhere in Merseyside, as Liverpool plan their next move, both clubs know they were part of one of the summer’s most dramatic transfer stories — one that might just shape their futures in ways no one saw coming.
