“World class” defender wants Liverpool move but would settle for Arsenal transfer
An insight into the future of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has been offered by Sam Lee of The Athletic.
Since joining Palace in 2021, Guehi has risen to the rank of club captain and guided the club to the 2025 FA Cup, their first-ever major honour, before helping them win that year’s Community Shield. Under Oliver Glasner’s management, Guehi has been a crucial cog for Palace’s recent brilliance.
Despite this, much talk about Guehi this season has been about a potential departure. The centre-back is in the final year of his contract and following a failed bid late in the summer, Liverpool have long been touted as the defender’s most likely destination. Palace, meanwhile, seem resigned to the fact that their skipper will depart.
Guehi’s importance has only increased in the light of Palace’s recent injury woes. Daniel Munoz and Nathaniel Clyne are both sidelined, hampering Glasner’s right-hand side almost entirely. Elsewhere, Chris Richards only recently returned to action, whilst fellow centre-back Chadi Riad has been hampered by injuries since joining the club in 2024.
Understandably, Palace are keen on reinforcing their defence, though it appears that will be done in the absence of Guehi, who has seemingly revealed which club he would prefer to join if and when he moves on Selhurst Park.
Fabrizio Romano: Man City convinced they can seal 'easy' signing after Semenyo
The Sky Blues are adamant behind-the-scenes.
ByEmilio Galantini Guehi prefers to wait until summer and join Liverpool
The Let Me Talk podcast, hosted by The Athletic’s Sam Lee and David Mooney, were discussing interest in Guehi from Manchester City. Recent injuries to Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol have only strengthened the club’s need for defensive depth.
It would appear that, despite City’s interest, Guehi remains committed in his desire to join Liverpool. The Reds have endured a shaky title defence and after 21 matches in the new season, sit 14 points adrift of Arsenal atop the table. The Gunners are, reportedly, also keen on Guehi, though it seems that the England international is more inclined to moving to Merseyside than to North London.
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Jarell Quansah’s summer departure and Giovanni Leoni’s ACL injury on debut meant that, aside from starting duo Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool have just Joe Gomez to rely on. Gomez is a great player, but has struggled with injuries throughout his career, meaning there is no reliable cover in that position for Arne Slot.
It has shown throughout the season, too. Neither Virgil nor Konate have been at their brilliant best and a contributing factor to this, no doubt, is Liverpool’s lack of feasible rotation options for either of them. In Guehi, Liverpool would be signing one of the Premier League’s most reliable centre-halves and can only be bolstered by his evident desire for a move to Anfield.