Liverpool’s hopes of strengthening their backline this summer may have hit a snag, with a key defensive target now hesitant to make the switch.
According to The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi is in no rush to leave, even open to seeing out the final year of his contract if the right opportunity doesn’t present itself. The 24-year-old, fresh off a strong FA Cup run with Palace, has ruled out a contract renewal — making him available this summer, but only under the right circumstances.
This throws a wrench in Liverpool’s plans. Guehi has been identified as a potential replacement for Jarell Quansah, who is reportedly close to a £30m move to Bayer Leverkusen after making 25 appearances last season.
With Quansah’s likely exit creating a gap in the squad, Liverpool are pressing for defensive reinforcements — but Guehi wants assurances. His top priority? Regular game time.
The former Chelsea man has his sights set on locking down a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s England setup for the 2026 World Cup, and he’s cautious about landing somewhere he might not start consistently.
While Liverpool would offer the prestige of working under Arne Slot and competing for silverware, Guehi would have to contend with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, who remain the first-choice centre-backs. Van Dijk, despite being 33, recently extended his contract, while Konaté is injury-prone and nearing the end of his deal — factors that may influence Guehi’s thinking.
The Reds have already signed Florian Wirtz this window but are expected to turn their attention to defence, particularly with Joe Gomez’s fitness issues and Konaté’s uncertain future.
Still, The Guardian notes that Guehi “won’t be rushed” — he’s content to let his contract run down, potentially leaving for free next summer or signing a pre-contract abroad in January.
That uncertainty could force Palace to reconsider their £45m valuation. As Liverpool watch the situation unfold, the key question is: will the allure of joining the reigning Premier League champs be enough to sway Guehi — or will regular minutes elsewhere win out?
