Marc Guehi's Wage Demands Shared as Liverpool Target Aims to Match Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz

Liverpool remain keen on signing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, but his hefty wage demands—potentially matching those of stars like Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz—could complicate negotiations. The 25-year-old England international, whose contract expires in summer 2026, has rejected an extension at Palace, positioning himself for a high-value move.[2]

Guehi's salary expectations have already deterred major clubs. Barcelona, who saw him as the perfect left-sided center-back to pair with Pau Cubarsi, cooled their interest after learning his demands via Mundo Deportivo. The La Liga champions, prioritizing defensive reinforcements under Hansi Flick, found the gap too wide, halting talks despite pre-contract possibilities.[2] Real Madrid faced similar issues earlier in the season.[2]

At Anfield, Guehi is viewed as a long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk, who turns 35 next season. Urgency has grown with Ibrahima Konate's deal also ending in 2026, attracting interest from Real Madrid. Liverpool nearly secured Guehi last summer, but the deal collapsed on deadline day as Palace couldn't find a replacement.[2]

Experts warn Liverpool of "huge wages" and a substantial signing-on fee. Instead of a £40-50m transfer fee, Guehi could demand a large upfront bonus, easing Palace's sale but inflating Liverpool's costs. This structure leverages his contract situation, making him a "free" agent soon.[3]

Amid the speculation, Guehi remains composed. In a Sky Sports interview, he credited his faith and teammates like Maxence Lacroix for helping him through last summer's failed Liverpool switch, insisting it didn't faze him.[2]

Tactical analysts emphasize Guehi's fit for Liverpool, praising his ball-playing ability and defensive solidity as ideal for the Reds' high-line system—especially with Van Dijk's future uncertain.[1] As the January window heats up, Palace faces pressure to cash in, but Guehi's ambitions to match elite earners like Ekitike (PSG) and Wirtz (Leverkusen) signal a transformative deal ahead.

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