Marc Guehi Transfer Situation is Disaster for Liverpool — and it Could Get Much Worse

Liverpool's pursuit of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has turned into a nightmare, with Manchester City poised to snatch the England international in a £20m deal, leaving Anfield fans devastated and the club's hierarchy facing intense scrutiny.

The saga began last summer on September 1, 2025, when Liverpool had a £35m offer accepted by Palace, and Guehi reportedly completed a medical. However, the deal collapsed in the final hours of deadline day as Palace couldn't secure a replacement defender in time[1][2]. Liverpool appeared favorites to reignite talks in January 2026 or sign him as a free agent next summer, given his contract expires June 30, 2026[3].

But transfer expert Fabrizio Romano delivered a gut punch on January 16, 2026, posting: "BREAKING: Marc Guehi to Manchester City, HERE WE GO! Official proposal accepted by Crystal Palace right now — understand fee will be around £20m. Guehi has ACCEPTED move to #MCFC."[1] Palace, now managerless after Oliver Glasner's impending departure, accepted the cut-price bid amid Guehi's desire to leave[2][3]. Glasner had expressed confidence Guehi would stay but acknowledged a high offer could change that[3].

This outcome is a disaster for Liverpool, who lost their top centre-back target to bitter rivals City under Pep Guardiola. It compounds defensive woes, with Ibrahima Konate's contract also entering its final six months[3]. Regrets linger over the summer fiasco, where Liverpool "had him, then had him taken from them," as one report laments[1].

Arne Slot must now pivot to alternatives: Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni (£80m+), Borussia Dortmund's options, or Tottenham's Santiago Gimenez—no, wait, centre-back Cristian Romero or Valentine's Senesi, whose deal expires soon and who's rejected extensions[2]. With over two weeks left in the January window, Liverpool have time to recover, but missing Guehi stings deeply, potentially weakening their title challenge against a strengthened City[1][2].

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