Crystal Palace ‘braced’ to lose £45m star | OneFootball

Liverpool Pursue Marc Guehi as Crystal Palace Plan for Defensive Changes

Palace weigh up Guehi sale amid contract stand-off

Crystal Palace are preparing for the possibility of losing captain Marc Guehi, with the England international entering the final year of his contract. According to The Express, Liverpool began discussions to sign the centre-back on 12 August and remain interested in securing his signature. Palace are mindful that failure to sell Guehi this summer could see them lose him on a free transfer next year.

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Negotiations stalled earlier this month over a valuation dispute, with Palace demanding £45m and Liverpool reluctant to exceed £35m. Talks are expected to resume following Palace’s UEFA Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad.

Glasner and Parish open to sale

Manager Oliver Glasner admitted Guehi needed to stay until the Fredrikstad fixture due to a lack of alternatives. Chairman Steve Parish has also hinted at an openness to selling, stating: “If Marc wants to sign a new contract then he can stay! It’s a difficult situation. Everyone has to sell players to comply with the rules.”

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Potential replacements identified

Palace have shown interest in Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji, tabling a £15m proposal, and have reportedly made a loan bid for Monaco’s Mohammed Salisu. Both deals face competition from other clubs, with Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray chasing Akanji and Olympiakos interested in Salisu. Rennes’ Jeremy Jacquet and Toulouse’s Jaydee Canvot are also on Palace’s radar as they prepare for Guehi’s potential departure.

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Liverpool’s defensive concerns

Liverpool are keen to strengthen their back line, having already added Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £26m. Joe Gomez remains the only experienced cover for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, whose inconsistent displays early in the campaign have raised concerns. Guehi’s arrival would add proven Premier League quality as the champions aim to reinforce their defensive depth for another demanding season.

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For Palace fans, this report is a tough reminder of the club’s current reality. Losing Eberechi Eze to Arsenal already felt like a major blow, but the potential sale of Marc Guehi would significantly weaken the heart of the defence. Guehi has been a leader since his arrival, combining composure and physicality, and his departure would not just leave a gap in the back line but also strip the squad of a vital presence.

Palace are doing the right thing by preparing for his exit, but the names linked so far raise questions. Akanji would be an experienced option but could be difficult to secure with competition from Champions League clubs. Salisu is a strong defender but has struggled for consistency, and other targets like Jacquet and Canvot are still developing talents. For a club that already lost its creative spark in Eze, replacing Guehi with a player of equal quality is crucial.

Liverpool’s pursuit only heightens the challenge. They have the resources to get a deal done and the appeal of a title-winning side. Palace fans know that selling players is part of the model, but the timing of this move could harm ambitions in Europe and in the Premier League. Fans will be hoping Parish’s plans are well advanced because replacing a leader like Guehi will be no easy task.