'They fumbled the bag': Rio Ferdinand claims Liverpool have made a big transfer mistake
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Liverpool had a busy summer, but their 2026 January transfer window left much to be desired.Jeremy Jacquet will arrive at Anfield later this year after a deal was agreed for the young centre-back over the winter.However, Liverpool did not sign another senior player in January, leaving Arne Slot light on options in certain positions. This decision was taken despite Marc Guehi being allowed to leave Crystal Palace and join Manchester City, a move Rio Ferdinand has suggested the Reds may now regret.Liverpool made a big mistake by not signing Marc GuehiAfter a failed move last summer, Liverpool were linked with Guehi again in the last transfer window.However, the Englishman instead joined Manchester City in a £20m move, rather than seeing out his Palace contract and departing as a free agent later this year.At the time, one report claimed that the Merseyside outfit didn’t view the overall package for Guehi as a smart market opportunity, with suggestions of a £300,000-a-week wage at the Etihad Stadium.But speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents this week, the former England international claimed Liverpool ‘fumbled the bag’ regarding the centre-back.He said: “Marc Guehi could be the biggest fumble by Liverpool Football Club in the last few years.
They need centre-backs. They need someone who can come in and hit the ground running, who’s got Premier League experience.
20 million pounds snip. “They fumbled the bag with him, man, because his influence on this team [Man City], the calmness that he’s brought.”After helping the Sky Blues secure a dominant win over Liverpool in the FA Cup, Guehi was praised heavily by Joe Hart.He, along with Antoine Semenyo, has played a key role in Man City revitalising their season and potentially even ending 2025/26 with a domestic treble.Liverpool, on the other hand, have declined a great deal this term and, barring the odd win here and there, are showing little sign of being able to turn things around with the current group of players.Unfortunately, that is a byproduct of having FSG as owners, as fans are well aware by now that their club, for the most part, prefer to sign lower-profile names and develop them into top stars.It’s a strategy that paid off massively with the likes of Mohamed Salah, but really didn’t help Liverpool this season, whereas one of their biggest rivals in recent years is now benefiting massively from Guehi’s addition.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox