Ornstein confirms Liverpool transfer approach as Reds submit official proposal for 25-year-old
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Liverpool have officially submitted a formal offer to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi in the 2025 summer transfer window, aiming to bolster their defensive options ahead of the Premier League deadline.
The Reds are prepared to pay around £30 million for the 25-year-old central defender, reflecting their desire to strengthen a defense that has shown vulnerability early in the season. Guehi is a key figure for Palace and England, and Liverpool's interest in him has intensified as they seek to add experience behind Virgil van Dijk and complement newly signed Giovanni Leoni.
Negotiations, however, have encountered a notable complication: Crystal Palace's condition that Liverpool include Joe Gomez on loan as part of the transfer package. Palace, having won the FA Cup last season and beaten Liverpool in the FA Community Shield, reportedly want Gomez to join them temporarily for the 2025/26 campaign as part of the deal.
Liverpool have firmly rejected this condition, unwilling to loan Gomez to Palace, though sources mention they might consider a permanent move for Gomez, not a loan. This stalemate has added complexity to closing the transfer, with Palace also seeking a suitable replacement for Guehi, considering the defensive leadership he provides.
Meanwhile, Palace manager Oliver Glasner has indicated that Guehi will remain with the club at least until after their Europa Conference League qualifier second leg, emphasizing the timing challenges for a transfer before the window closes on September 1.
Despite the impasse over Gomez, Liverpool remain in active talks with Guehi and are eager to finalize the deal quickly, as their defensive record including recent matches where leads were lost has increased urgency. Adding Guehi would bring a 25-year-old England international with Premier League experience to an Anfield defense facing concerns about aging and injuries.
In parallel, Liverpool are also pursuing other transfer targets like Alexander Isak and planning further squad building moves as manager Arne Slot looks to solidify his team's competitiveness this season.
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