Liverpool’s Guehi Chase Stalls Again Amid January Dilemma

Liverpool’s hopes of reviving a move for Marc Guehi ahead of the January transfer window have hit another roadblock.

The Reds had already accepted that, after their failed summer bid, any renewed approach for the Crystal Palace centre-back might have to wait until later in the year. But with Giovanni Leoni sidelined for months following an ACL injury, Anfield chiefs are being forced to rethink their defensive plans.

According to Football Insider, Guehi still privately blames Liverpool for the collapse of negotiations in the summer — even though the club were prepared to pay a significant fee. Palace manager Oliver Glasner ultimately vetoed the transfer at the eleventh hour.

To make matters worse, transfer expert Ben Jacobs has warned that a January move may not be realistic. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Guehi is said to favour stability this season before weighing up multiple offers in the summer.

That leaves Arne Slot in a difficult spot, with just three senior centre-backs available for the remainder of the campaign. And competition for Guehi’s signature will be fierce: Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich are all expected to enter the race next year. Madrid may lose Dayot Upamecano, while Alonso’s side could move on from veterans David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger, sharpening the market for elite defenders.

For Liverpool, persuading Guehi to snub Europe’s giants and choose Merseyside may require nothing short of a perfect pitch when the window reopens.