Liverpool Football Club has submitted a £35 million bid for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, intensifying the race to secure the defender’s services as the transfer deadline looms. With a little more than 48 hours to go, Guehi’s immediate future is in serious doubt, opening the door to possible intrigue either way.
Crystal Palace have slapped a £40 million price tag on the England international. At the very least, they will be willing to consider Liverpool’s offer of £35 million with a further £5 million in performance-based bonuses. The 23-year-old defender has entered the last year of his contract. His impact has led to him becoming a crucial member of Palace’s back 3, further complicating the possible loss for the club.
Liverpool’s Transfer Strategy
Liverpool are equally bullish all around on their position regarding Joe Gomez. Though they have no immediate plans to loan him out. Gomez is incredibly useful on the back line with his ability to play various positions on defense. AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur are both monitoring him. Liverpool’s unwillingness to sell him makes their ability to sign Guehi highly questionable.
As much as they might like Guehi, Liverpool’s management are likely treading very cautiously. The club’s most recent proposal injected a new variable into the negotiations with a 10 percent sell-on clause complicating matters. With the clock ticking down, Liverpool is understandably considering its options.
“Getting the right replacement in now is almost impossible.” – Oliver Glasner
Crystal Palace’s Dilemma
To new Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, Guehi is central to Palace moving up the table this season. In truth, he said, there’s no one-fits-all replacement — at least not yet. There just aren’t any other players prepared to take over a starting role in the Premier League at the moment.
Glasner expressed his commitment to retaining Guehi, stating, “Marc is fully committed to the team, he shows it every third day at the moment… it is my point of view that we need to keep Marc.” His remarks further showcase the important role that Guehi has to continue to show defensive solidity for Crystal Palace.
The club are still actively pursuing alternatives, with a £22.5 million move for Toulouse’s 19-year-old defender Jaydee Canvot among them. This swap signals that not only do they understand Guehi’s value, but that they are readying themselves as a backup in case he leaves.
“Marc is a crucial part of Crystal Palace’s defence.” – Glasner
The Broader Transfer Landscape
While these negotiations are ongoing, other teams are taking the opportunity to position themselves for the next big fish. In terms of their top defensive target, AC Milan are currently zeroing in on Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji. On the other hand, Spurs are sifting through multiple options on defense, and Gomez is one of them. This burgeoning competitive landscape only increases the imperative for Crystal Palace to get their plans in place.
Crystal Palace’s transfer strategy hinges on effectively managing Guehi’s situation while simultaneously addressing their defensive needs. The next few days will be key as they try to negotiate this tricky landscape of talks and player pledges.
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