Marc Guehi decision speaks volumes as Man City poised to rival Liverpool for free transfer

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Liverpool enjoyed a record-breaking transfer window this summer as the reigning champions oversaw a £450 million spending spree that saw them add ten new players to Arne Slot’s ranks.

Admittedly, this was countered by the Reds banking roughly £225m from player sales as the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez all moved on.

But it ensured that it was both the busiest and costliest transfer window in the club’s history.

Liverpool would have spent even more, having agreed a £35m deal with Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi only to see the Eagles pull the plug at the 11th hour on transfer deadline day.

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But it was a rare disappointment for the Reds, having come out on top time and time again during the summer to land their desired transfer targets.

The marquee arrival was Alexander Isak, brought in on transfer deadline day from Newcastle United in a British record £125m deal.

The Swede had made it clear throughout the summer that he wanted to leave the Magpies and that Liverpool were his destination of choice.

Arsenal had been interested in the striker too, but instead moved for Viktor Gyokeres when it became clear his fellow Swede was holding out for a move to Anfield.

For the record, the Gunners also agreed a deal with Salford City for Will Wright, only to see the teenager snub their advances because he too wanted to join Liverpool.

Newcastle were actually left frustrated by the Reds on more than one occasion throughout the summer as they bid for both Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni, only for the players to also favour switches to Anfield instead.

Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz had been expected to join Bayern Munich while Man City were also heavily interested in the German, only for the Reds to steal the march on both following a successful pitch from Slot.

Elsewhere, City were also said to be interested in Milos Kerkez, but his mind was also made up with Liverpool his destination of choice.

Such spending and recruitment from the Reds was a novelty that supporters have not been accustomed to in recent years.

While Liverpool have signed well but sparingly for the majority over the past decade, they have also been dealt their fair share of transfer disappointment.

Martin Zubimendi pulled the plug on a move to the Reds at the 11th hour last year despite Liverpool activating his release clause, before instead opting to join Arsenal earlier this summer.

The year before, both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia snubbed the Reds in favour of Chelsea while Liverpool withdrew interest in Jude Bellingham when it became clear he wanted to join Real Madrid.

They would be priced out of a deal and needed additional recruitment in midfield.

The likes of Aurelien Tchouameni, Timo Werner, Julian Brandt and Mario Gotze have also all slipped through the Reds’ fingers in recent years for a variety of reasons.

With Liverpool still retaining interest in Guehi despite seeing his own move to Anfield fall through on deadline day, they will hope he does not become the latest name to join such a list.

The Reds remain interested in signing the England international, with the defender out of contract at Selhurst Park next summer.

But they are at present unlikely to move for Guehi in January given the player will be available on a free at the end of the season.

But that opens the door to Liverpool facing increased rival competition for the centre-back’s services.

Guehi is reportedly attracting interest from the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Juventus, and would be free to talk with any overseas club and sign a pre-contract agreement from January 1.

Meanwhile, the Mirror reports that City are set to rival the Reds and try to sign the 25-year-old when his contract expires next summer, potentially sparking a massive transfer tug-of-war between two of the Premier League's leading sides.

Slot confirmed Liverpool would still like to sign Guehi in his first press conference following the close of the transfer window, but refused to reveal if and when the Reds would go back in for the defender.

“I think it would be ridiculous if I’m going to deny we were close to signing him,” he admitted.

He had been undergoing a medical with the Reds when the Eagles pulled the plug, and is believed to have made it clear that he wanted to move to Anfield.

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Consequently, his stance was similar to Isak, Wirtz, Ekitike and Leoni - they might have had interest from elsewhere but Liverpool was very much their destination of choice.

Guehi might now attract further interest from elsewhere, especially if he leaves Palace on a free transfer next summer.

But having already decided to join the Reds once, Liverpool bosses can be hopeful that no matter what offers fall his way, his mind is already made up.