(Credit: Imago/Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Sun 17 August 2025 9:23, UK

Marc Guehi’s move to Liverpool is likely to be delayed by 12 months due to Crystal Palace’s stance on his potential transfer fee, sources have told Football Insider.

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Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have told him about Guehi’s uncertain future at Crystal Palace.

Guehi has emerged as Liverpool’s top central defensive target this summer with his contract into its final 12 months at Selhurst Park, particularly after Ibrahima Konate’s disastrous display against Bournemouth.

Football Insider revealed on 15 August that Liverpool had re-opened talks with Crystal Palace for Guehi as they try negotiate a transfer fee, but the Eagles have refused to renege on their £40million price tag.

Arne Slot is in need of defensive reinforcements at Liverpool (Credit: Imago)

Liverpool have added to their defensive stocks by signing 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni from Parma, and sources have told Football Insider that this could potentially see their move for Guehi delayed by a year.

Sources told Football Insider that Palace’s “dangerous” stance on Guehi’s valuation could scupper them in the long-term, with Liverpool happy to re-enter negotiations in a year’s time when he’ll be available for nothing.

Liverpool shelled out £26m to sign Leoni after his breakout campaign in Serie A with Parma, but that doesn’t mean Arne Slot has given up on trying to sign Guehi as negotiations continue with Palace.

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Speaking on the new Inside Track podcast, O’Rourke argued that Palace’s stance on Guehi’s £40m valuation could suit Liverpool’s own plans, with the Reds happy to take him for free next summer.

“Liverpool have another centre-back now with Giovanni Leoni moving to Anfield from Parma, a young player”, he told Football Insider.

Guehi is fast approaching the end of his contract at Crystal Palace (Credit: Imago)

“I don’t think that will stop Liverpool pursuing this move for Guehi, but it’s a dangerous one for Palace because Guehi is more than happy to stay and see out his contract, and that might suit Liverpool.

“They can look at it again next summer and take Guehi on a free, and for Guehi himself, it’s a big season ahead – he won’t want to move from Palace if he’s not guaranteed first-team minutes.

“If Palace do drop their price tag, then maybe Liverpool would decide to push through a deal for Guehi.”

Premier League legend Matt Le Tissier told Football Insider that Konate’s Liverpool future has already been decided amid interest from Real Madrid, and this only heightens the Reds’ need for new defenders.

Konate could leave Liverpool for Real Madrid next summer (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Konate and a 34-year-old Virgil van Dijk were twice torn apart by Bournemouth’s Antoine Semeyno in their Premier League opener, and Guehi would certainly be an improvement on Liverpool’s backline.

The 25-year-old is arguably England‘s leading centre-back ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and as Palace and Liverpool wrangle over his price tag, there’s little doubt that a move to Anfield would boost his credentials even further.

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