Liverpool step up Guehi pursuit as renewed talks reshape January plans
Liverpool have intensified their interest in Marc Guehi according to Team Talk, reopening meaningful talks with the defender’s camp as efforts to reinforce Arne Slot’s back line gather pace. With uncertainty surrounding several senior centre-backs and growing competition from Europe’s elite, the push to secure the Crystal Palace captain has moved into a more active phase.
Guehi dialogue reignited amid shifting landscape
Fresh discussions with Guehi’s representatives this week underline Liverpool’s intent to position themselves ahead of Real Madrid, who remain keen on recruiting the England international on a free transfer next summer. The 25-year-old’s contract at Selhurst Park expires in June, allowing him to negotiate freely with overseas clubs from 1 January.
That looming scenario has prompted urgency at Anfield. With Virgil van Dijk entering the latter stage of his career and Ibrahima Konaté’s inconsistencies creating further uncertainty, planning for the future defensive structure has become a priority. Guehi has long been admired and is viewed internally as a player capable of anchoring the next evolution of Slot’s rearguard.
Palace resisted heavily in the summer, rejecting a package worth up to £35m, but sources now indicate their stance has softened. Mid-table concerns, financial considerations and the need to support Oliver Glasner’s rebuilding programme have altered the tone of negotiations.
Liverpool prepared for cut-price offer
Liverpool are expected to table a bid in the region of £25–30m in January, significantly lower than Palace’s £70m valuation from a year earlier but still enough to provide them with reinvestment power rather than risk losing their captain for nothing.
Guehi is understood to remain receptive to the switch. Personal terms were agreed in the summer before the move stalled, and interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona has not dampened his ambition to secure Champions League football and assume a central role under Slot. The defender has declined two renewal proposals from Palace and recognises the significance of the upcoming window.
Palace planning for life after Guehi
Palace, meanwhile, are preparing for the potential departure. Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande has emerged as their preferred successor, with a club-record bid in excess of €50m being drafted. Strong interest from Chelsea complicates that pursuit, but the South London club appear determined to have a replacement lined up quickly.
The next few weeks are shaping up to be decisive. With the January window approaching and competition emerging from Spain, Liverpool intend to avoid any repeat of the summer collapse by acting early and decisively.
Wider implications for Liverpool’s squad planning
Elsewhere, Liverpool stand to benefit financially if a former player returns to the Premier League through Nottingham Forest, with a previously negotiated clause set to activate under specific conditions. Additionally, speculative reports in Spain have linked the club with future interest in Jude Bellingham, though such scenarios remain long-term and depend on several factors.
For now, the focus remains on Guehi. His composure, leadership and Premier League experience align closely with Liverpool’s long-term planning, and the revived talks suggest the club are prepared to move with intent before rivals gain the upper hand.
