Liverpool ready to act with Palace captain entering last year tomorrow | OneFootball

Guehi at the Crossroads: Palace’s Defensive Pillar Faces Summer Reckoning

Palace’s quiet leader draws loud interest

There’s a stillness about Marc Guehi’s demeanour that contrasts with the noise now building around his future. For a player who has captained Crystal Palace, led with maturity beyond his years and been part of England’s senior setup, the silence from Selhurst Park regarding a new contract is telling.

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On Tuesday, Guehi officially enters the final 12 months of his deal. It’s a moment that brings clarity, but also a measure of danger for Palace. Lose him for free next summer, or sell him now for a fee that satisfies both sporting pride and financial sense.

Liverpool, the reigning Premier League champions, are in the mix. And while interest has simmered quietly in the background, it is beginning to bubble into something more tangible.

Liverpool weigh up value in Guehi pursuit

Liverpool’s recruitment under Arne Slot is methodical rather than frenetic. Targets are profiled, priced and pursued with patience. Guehi, at 24, sits slightly outside the age bracket the club typically favour. Their focus in recent windows has been younger: Levi Colwill, Leny Yoro, Dean Huijsen.

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Yet this feels different. With Jarell Quansah poised for a £35 million move to Bayer Leverkusen, the possibility of reinvesting those funds into a ready-made Premier League centre-back appeals. Not least one who has captained his side and held his own on the international stage.

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Palace are said to have knocked back bids worth up to £65 million from Newcastle last summer. Now, with the clock ticking on his contract, a more realistic figure of £40–45 million has emerged.

That, for Liverpool, could prove the tipping point. If they can recoup the Quansah fee and add a little more, the numbers begin to add up. But Liverpool will not be drawn into a bidding war. Nor will they be rushed.

The onus now lies with Palace. Their silence over a renewal either indicates quiet confidence in keeping Guehi for one more year or acceptance that now is the time to sell. If the former, they gamble on Europe and Guehi’s presence elevating them again. If the latter, they must extract full value without scaring off suitors.

First-team assurances will be critical

For all Liverpool’s interest, there remains one essential caveat: playing time. Arne Slot’s side were formidable last season, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté anchoring a back line that delivered silverware.

Konaté’s contract situation, though, introduces uncertainty. He too has 12 months left, and while there is hope of a renewal, nothing is final. Liverpool’s interest in Guehi suggests preparation as much as ambition.

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Guehi, however, will not want to trade Selhurst Park’s armband for a seat on the Anfield bench. That much is clear. Palace may not offer the Champions League, but they do offer guaranteed minutes and, pending UEFA clarity, European football of some kind.

The question becomes one of trust. Can Slot provide a clear role, and not just a promise? Guehi’s international future may depend on it. With Gareth Southgate gone and Thomas Tuchel now at the helm, the England setup is undergoing a reset. To remain in contention, Guehi needs visibility. Regular starts in elite competition, not rotational cameos.

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This time last year he was pencilled into England’s Euro 2024 squad. Today, he faces a battle to maintain his place ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Liverpool can help elevate his status. But only if he plays.

Rivals wait in the wings as Liverpool consider next move

Palace, should they decide to cash in, will want more than one buyer at the table. That’s standard practice. Arsenal have enquired but are focused elsewhere. Tottenham retain an interest but have already been rebuffed. Newcastle, scarred by last summer’s near-miss, may try again.

Chelsea, who inserted a 20% sell-on clause into the original deal, are tracking developments. Their interest appears lukewarm for now, but things can change quickly in West London. And then there’s Manchester United, never fully out of the loop when England internationals are up for grabs.

Still, Liverpool’s offer, if it comes, will carry weight. Not just financially but in prestige. The allure of Anfield, the Champions League, and a young, competitive squad under a progressive manager is hard to resist.

Palace may yet try to tempt Guehi with a new deal. But as the weeks pass and the silence deepens, it feels like a turning point is approaching.