Liverpool ready to sign Premier League star for free next summer | OneFootball

Liverpool Monitor Guehi as Contract Situation Offers £50m Opportunity for Free

Crystal Palace Contract Standoff Offers Rare Opening

Liverpool’s transfer strategy has long been built on discipline, timing and extracting maximum value from opportunity. The latest situation involving Marc Guehi presents precisely that. The 24-year-old centre-back, currently captain at Crystal Palace and a key figure in the England setup, could be secured for nothing in 12 months’ time.

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As The Chronicle reports, Guehi is “in a contract stand-off with the Eagles” and is prepared “to run his current deal down to expiry” if no suitable move materialises this summer. While Crystal Palace continue to insist on a £50 million valuation, their leverage is beginning to slip with each passing week of the window.

Newcastle United have also shown interest, but it is Liverpool who have consistently tracked the player and who, crucially, may have the edge in the event of a free transfer. It has previously been reported that Guehi would favour a move to Anfield over other top-six suitors. That sentiment, if unchanged, could prove pivotal.

Long-Term Planning at Centre-Back

Liverpool’s need for central defensive reinforcement is not a new topic. With Jarell Quansah now with Bayer Leverkusen, the depth behind Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté has been severely tested. Guehi offers Premier League experience, composure on the ball and positional awareness well beyond his age.

Photo: IMAGO

While £50 million is arguably a fair price for a 24-year-old England international with leadership credentials, the Reds have shown restraint when it comes to inflated fees. That patience may now be rewarded.

A January pre-contract agreement could give Liverpool first refusal and avoid the inevitable frenzy that would follow in the summer if Guehi sees out the final year of his deal. In that sense, the club’s famed ability to strike at the right time could pay off once again.

Guehi’s Qualities Suit Slot’s System

Arne Slot’s high line and progressive build-up style demand calm, intelligent defenders who can read danger early and distribute with accuracy. Guehi’s skillset aligns well with those tactical requirements. He also brings top-flight consistency, having been a mainstay for Palace and earning regular England call-ups in the process.

Photo: IMAGO

His leadership as Crystal Palace’s FA Cup-winning captain only adds to his profile. At 24, he sits in the sweet spot of youth and maturity, with both upside and experience to offer.

Liverpool’s Transfer Strategy Remains Disciplined

Liverpool’s approach this summer has been calculated. While Florian Wirtz’s arrival involved a £100 million deal including add-ons, the structure was negotiated to ensure value in the long term. As one source put it, “£11 million was shaved off Leverkusen’s initial asking price and that’s assuming he becomes the best player in the world.”

The club have avoided the trend of overpaying for mid-table assets, with the Guehi situation now providing another opportunity to show patience. If Palace remain firm on their price, and if no club bites, Liverpool may wait it out and capitalise in January.

As The Chronicle put it, “a move could prove to be too expensive for the defender,” and should that come to pass, a pre-agreement would represent yet another act of savvy recruitment from those in charge at Anfield.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

For Liverpool fans, the prospect of signing a £50 million centre-back for nothing is the kind of business that brings back memories of the club’s smartest transfer moments. This is exactly the sort of opportunity supporters have come to expect. No panic buys, just clinical, well-timed decisions.

Marc Guehi ticks every box. Young, experienced, homegrown and tactically compatible with what Arne Slot is trying to build. The idea of waiting six months to lock him in for free, then seeing him arrive next summer ready to compete at the top level, is genuinely exciting.

With the current squad light on defensive options and another long season across multiple fronts ahead, there is always the temptation to spend now. But holding firm, perhaps using a short-term fix while Guehi’s situation plays out, might be a masterstroke.

More importantly, it sends a message. Liverpool will strengthen on their own terms. If they pull this off, fans will rightly hail it as one of the smartest free deals in recent memory. And Guehi at Anfield? It just feels right.