Report: 'Exceptional' player has decided he now doesn't want to play for Liverpool next season
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Liverpool almost brought Marc Guehi in on deadline day but it fell through at the last minute.
The Reds had an almost-perfect summer in the transfer market as they signed a wealth of new talent to revolutionise their team.
However, the only negative from their window was the Guehi deal collapsing, with things falling through at the 11th hour despite everything being agreed.
Liverpool wanted another centre-back and preferably one with experience, hence why the Crystal Palace captain was the perfect choice, although he might still be in the running in the future.
The Reds remain keen to bring him to Anfield, but they will likely wait until the summer when he is available for free, although this may no longer be possible as the Englishman might now be getting cold feet.
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Guehi is widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the league, but there was little competition for his signature this summer due to the length of his contract.
This meant Liverpool got a free run at him and almost pulled off the deal, but now they will face competition if they are to go back in for him.
Clubs from abroad can also start negotiating with him in January as he will have six months left on his deal, meaning they can sign him on a pre-contract before the Reds can even attempt to speak to him again.
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This will be worrying for many reasons, but the main one is that Guehi appears to have had a change of heart, with The Mirror reporting that he would prefer a move to Real Madrid instead.
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They state that Guehi has told his advisors that he has his heart now set on a move to the Spanish capital, with Madrid ready to open negotiations as soon as they are allowed.
The Spanish giants have not been shy to take a punt on English talent in recent years either, with Guehi potentially joining both Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold at the club.
Of course, this would be a major blow for the Reds, but as many fans would say, if a player does not want to join Liverpool and Liverpool only, then they do not deserve to pull on the Red shirt.
As well as potentially losing Guehi to Madrid, there is still a possibility that Ibrahima Konate goes there too, meaning the Spanish side will have poached Liverpool yet again.
The Frenchman’s contract also expires next summer and he too could leave on a free, although the Reds are trying their best to avoid that.
They have offered ‘Ibou’ numerous contracts but a breakthrough has not been reached, although suggestions are that he is willing to stay as long as the terms are significantly improved.
Either way, the Reds will likely make a move for another centre-back next summer, but they might have to go in for two now given that another target appears to have changed his mind.