Arne Slot breaks silence on failed Marc Guehi transfer after Liverpool frustration

Arne Slot admits that it is a 'pity' for Liverpool and Marc Guehi that a deadline day move could not be finalized with Crystal Palace.

Liverpool stepped up its pursuit of the England international in the final days of the window and agreed a fee worth $47 million (£35 million) with Palace. Guehi, who is out of contract this summer, completed a medical and was ready to sign a five-year contract at Anfield.

A deal sheet was even submitted to the Premier League but having failed to sign a suitable replacement, Palace pulled the plug at the last minute. As things stand, Liverpool is not expected to return in January with a new offer and is likely to wait until next summer to try and sign Guehi for nothing.

Slot spoke for the first time on the failed transfer when he faced the media on Friday, ahead of this weekend's trip to newly-promoted Burnley.

“A lot happened on the final day. I am most pleased that we got the deal for Alexander Isak over the line. Everyone at the club worked so hard to get it done," Slot said.

“It would be a bit ridiculous to deny that we were close to signing Guehi. That is so out in the open. But these things happen.

"It probably happened to our players where they were close to signing for other clubs and then things change in the last moment. We would have liked to sign him, of course.

"If we feel we can strengthen the team, we never hesitate to do so and that is what we tried to do.

“It is a pity for us and the player but he is in a good place at Palace, where he won the FA Cup and Community Shield. Let’s see what the future brings for him and us."

Liverpool does still have four options in central defense following the arrival of Giovanni Leoni earlier in the summer, as the Italian awaits his Reds debut. And Slot insists he is more than satisfied at the end of the window.

He added: "Against Arsenal, Ibou and Virgil were outstanding and then Joe Gomez came in and was outstanding, too.

“Giovanni Leoni had his first call up, Ryan and Wataru can play there so it isn’t like we don’t have options there."

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