Club ‘Bullied’ Star out of Dream Liverpool Move on Deadline Day | OneFootball

Liverpool Left Frustrated as Marc Guehi’s Crystal Palace Transfer Collapses

Marc Guehi’s proposed move to Liverpool came within touching distance on deadline day, only to collapse at the final hurdle. The Reds had agreed a £35 million fee with Crystal Palace, the defender had passed his medical, and all that remained was for Palace to secure a replacement. That never materialised, leaving Arne Slot without his primary centre-back target.

Liverpool Defensive Concerns Resurface

Slot’s side began their Premier League title defence with confidence, but questions remain over depth at centre-back. At present, Liverpool rely on four senior defenders, yet the injury record of players like Joe Gomez means availability is far from guaranteed across a gruelling campaign. Guehi, 25, was seen as the ideal long-term solution, combining Premier League experience with composure and leadership qualities. His arrival would have given the squad both reliability and balance in a key position.

Rio Ferdinand Highlights Palace Pressure on Guehi

The story took another twist when Rio Ferdinand offered his view on how the transfer collapsed. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former England defender suggested Guehi was effectively strong-armed into staying at Selhurst Park.

“Marc Guehi, a wonderful young, polite, respectable human being,” Ferdinand said.

“Beautiful young human being, dances and tip-toes around it, does things the right way, does things the way the media says it should be done, he’s quiet, unassuming, non-confrontational, the fans love this, this is what they respect, this is what they like.

“Transfer deadline day, he don’t even get a move, he’s stuck, he’s at Crystal Palace, they said ‘no, you’re not going’ because they knew he wasn’t going to fight, he’s not that way.

“So the club bully him, so the club say no, you’re not going anywhere, so we’re going to take that move out of your hands, the dream move to the Champions who could potentially win three or four trophies this year.”

Guehi had even captained Palace to a commanding 3-0 win over Aston Villa the weekend before deadline day, scoring a superb goal in what many thought would be his farewell appearance. Instead, he remains central to Oliver Glasner’s plans, with reports that the Palace manager even threatened to resign if the defender had been sold.

January Opportunity for Liverpool

While the immediate disappointment is clear, Liverpool may yet benefit from patience. Guehi’s contract situation means that, by January, he will have only six months remaining on his current deal. That could slash his value to less than half of the £35 million initially agreed.

For Slot, the wait might also bring clarity. Youngsters such as Giovanni Leoni are expected to see more minutes in the coming months, giving Liverpool a clearer picture of the squad’s depth. If the likes of Leoni can prove themselves, Guehi’s role may shift from necessity to luxury.

Even so, given his talent and temperament, Liverpool are unlikely to walk away from pursuing him. January could offer a more cost-effective path to securing a defender who has already shown his ability to captain at Premier League level.

For now, Guehi stays at Selhurst Park, Palace keep their captain, and Liverpool turn to the months ahead with both frustration and optimism.