In what was a whirlwind few hours for Liverpool, the club agreed a deal to sign centre-back Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace only for the deal to fall through at the last minute as Palace failed to sign a replacement.
🚨⚠️ BREAKING: Marc Guehi-Liverpool deal has COLLAPSED.
Despite medical done and deal sheet submitted, Crystal Palace don’t approve the move following Igor deal off.
Guehi stays at #CPFC. 🦅 pic.twitter.com/xlfF2ap24T
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 1, 2025
The Eagles captain was set to become the second major signing on transfer deadline day, after the Reds earlier agreed a deal to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United in a deal worth ÂŁ125 million.
It was understood that the two clubs had reached a compromise on the deal that Liverpool submitted at the end of last week, which was ÂŁ35 million, plus a 10 per cent sell-on clause.
Palace wanted to sign two defensive replacements for Guehi but managed only one on deadline day. A deal sheet for Guehi’s move to the reds was submitted before the 7pm cut-off time but then Palace chairman, Steve Parish, pulled the plug on the deal when his manager, Oliver Glasner, threatened to resign if the deal progressed.
Guehi had completed the first stage of his medical and signed off with a goodbye video to Palace, which was leaked online (see below). The 25 year old defender is said to be angry at the collapse of the deal and is reportedly considering giving up the captains armband in protest.
Liverpool will now have to wait for the English center back until at least January when a smaller bid of ÂŁ10-ÂŁ15 million may be enough to bring him to Liverpool.
Failing that Liverpool will look to pick Guehi up on a free next summer. This will save the club over ÂŁ35M but the question remains as to whether not signing him this summer could impact Liverpool’s ambition to win back-to-back Premier Leagues. As a result of the Guehi deal collapse Joe Gomez’s loan to AC Milan also did not materialise.
What Would Guehi Add To Liverpool?
Similarly to the Isak deal, this is one that was understood to have been in the pipeline for a couple of months though, it became obvious that this is an area that Liverpool were lacking in after the club leaked a number of goals in their opening couple of games.
While a lot of attention has been focused on the club’s attack this summer, with Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, likely to be imminent, with the arrival of Guehi, Liverpool would have actually signed four defenders this summer. Essentially a new backline. In the end it remains at three defenders.
If Guehi comes in January or next summer he could well join Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giovanni Leoni in a brand new rearguard, though it is likely that Virgil van Dijk will still be a mainstay. For Reds fans, this potential centre-back partnership could become one of the best in Europe.
Even when he comes it is unlikely that Guehi will displace Van Dijk as captain, though the Reds are going to have two natural leaders in the centre of defence, who could complement each other very well.
Despite the collapse of the transfer, Liverpool have still spent ÂŁ415 million – the highest ever amount in a transfer window and the second time that the ÂŁ400 million mark has been broken – the first time being in 2023 when Chelsea spent ÂŁ401.2 million.
Guehi The Missing Piece
While it could be argued that if a top class midfielder came available or someone who could be an adequate back-up to Mohamed Salah, then the club might be tempted to enter the market again, though it is fair to say that Guehi could be the final piece in the puzzle. The question is more when he will arrive and fit into the jigsaw rather than if. Only a major injury or dramatic loss of form will now prevent the move either in January or the summer.
He is sure to add a lot more defensive stability to the Reds rearguard, after giving everything to Crystal Palace during his time there. Even when the player was aware of Liverpool’s interest, he didn’t let that affect his performances; giving everything in the Community Shield as the Eagles won on penalties.
If Guehi does come and can continue the same form at the Reds then Liverpool fans have a reason to be very excited. Like many things in life good things come to those who wait.
