Liverpool knows Marc Guehi transfer truth as $54M blow has already been softened
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What a summer it has been for Liverpool in the transfer window, and it was so close to having the perfect ending.
A window that has seen the Premier League record broken not once, but twice by the Reds has resulted in a side already holding the title of champions being transformed into something even more remarkable.
The signing of Marc Guehi would have been the ideal end to an extraordinary window, and for a long time on deadline day, it seemed as though the Crystal Palace captain would be heading to Anfield.
As the clock ticked to 7 pm in the UK and the window closed, the deal sheet went through, offering one last glimmer of hope, but it wasn’t long before that was extinguished.
Liverpool’s interest in Guehi has been clear for a long time, but it was always a possibility that he wouldn’t sign this summer.
In fact, earlier in the summer, most fans would likely have been expecting the usually frugal Reds to bide their time for a player that will be available for nothing in less than 12 months.
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Giving up guaranteed game time to join a club where he would face a fight for his place in the side might have had some questioning his place in England’s side next summer, although given Thomas Tuchel’s options in defense, those questions would have been ridiculous regardless of whether he was starting regularly for Liverpool or not.
But with no new contract forthcoming for Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez’s fitness proving a concern, and Giovanni Leoni’s inexperience maybe proving too big a risk, there would have been a big opportunity for Guehi to earn his spot alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Konate’s future in particular might have played heavily on the mind of Slot
Guehi knows there’s a move to a Champions League side waiting for him, whether it’s in the next transfer window, or next summer.
And while losing Konate - a player that was being rated at up to $54M earlier this summer - for nothing would be a bitter blow, it may have already been softened by the knowledge that Guehi’s own price tag is only going to come down now.
Palace has a big decision to make - take whatever it can get in January, or face up to losing their star defender for nothing