Deal agreed: Liverpool make major deadline day breakthrough as Hughes works his magic yet again

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Liverpool have reached an agreement to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi for a fee of £35 million. The 25-year-old defender, who joined Palace from Chelsea in 2021, has been granted permission to undergo a medical in London and is expected to sign a five-year contract running until the summer of 2030. This transfer marks a significant move in Liverpool's transfer window as they aim to bolster their defensive options.

Guéhi currently has one year remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park and has been a key player and captain for Palace, making 155 appearances and scoring in their recent 3-0 victory over Aston Villa. He played a vital role in helping Crystal Palace secure their first major trophy by winning last season's FA Cup. Despite strong wishes from Palace's manager Oliver Glasner to keep Guéhi, and public statements emphasizing his importance to the club's success, the financial realities of the contract situation have led Palace to accept Liverpool's offer.

The transfer window has seen Liverpool pursue several high-profile deals, including ongoing talks to sign striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for a British record fee of £125 million. At Anfield, Guéhi is expected to compete with Ibrahima Konaté for a starting role alongside Virgil van Dijk, with Konaté himself in the final year of his contract and reported as a potential target for Real Madrid in 2026.

The deal for Guéhi reflects Liverpool’s strategy to strengthen their defensive line ahead of the coming seasons while managing contract and squad transitions. Meanwhile, Harvey Elliott is set to leave Liverpool for Aston Villa on a loan deal with an obligation to buy, which will reportedly bring Liverpool £35 million next summer.

PP