Liverpool gets Marc Guehi January transfer boost as rulebook changes

Marc Guehi would be eligible to play for Liverpool in the FA Cup despite his appearance for Crystal Palace against Macclesfield, with new rules allowing players to represent two clubs in the same competition

Marc Guehi could still join Liverpool this month(Image: Getty Images)

Marc Guehi would be eligible to feature for Liverpool in the FA Cup, even though he has already turned out for Crystal Palace.

It might surprise many supporters that the defender can still play for another side in this year's competition, despite having already appeared in it. Guehi's FA Cup availability follows Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner's decision to field the England international during the team's shock defeat to non-league Macclesfield on Saturday.

The 25-year-old wore the captain's armband for Palace's trip to the National League North outfit at the weekend. However, the center-back couldn't stop Palace from suffering arguably the most stunning upset in FA Cup history, falling 2-1 to the Silkmen.

Guehi's place in Glasner's starting XI raised concerns among Liverpool supporters about whether he could play in the FA Cup if he moved clubs during the transfer window.

Previously, the FA Cup's rules prevented players from representing more than one team in the competition during the same season, with players typically becoming cup-tied.

But a new regulation, introduced at the beginning of the season, now permits players to represent two clubs in the tournament.

Guehi is out of contract in the summer(Image: Getty Images)

The regulation states: "Save that a player that has played for one club in the qualifying competition and/or the competition proper may play for a maximum of one other club in the competition proper (but may only play for a maximum of one club in any given round of the competition)."

The amendment allows players to represent more than one club in the competition, provided it's not during the same round.

Should Guehi complete a transfer to Liverpool, or indeed Arsenal and Manchester City - both of whom have been linked with the defender - he would be available for selection from the fourth round onwards.

Liverpool struck an agreement for Guehi on transfer deadline day in September, only for Palace to pull the plug at the last minute. The Reds are understood to retain their interest in the Englishman and are among several clubs poised to make an approach when his Selhurst Park deal expires.

Guehi's contract is set to expire in June, and a host of Europe's top clubs are eager to secure the defender on a free transfer come summer. Among these are Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Inter Milan, with Guehi allowed to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club this month.

Speaking about his captain's future, Palace boss Glasner hinted that the player could leave this month if a significant offer came in. "Everybody wants that he plays for Crystal Palace, signs a new contract and stays here for ever," Glasner said of Guehi.

"On the other side, there's the situation that the contract ends in the summer, and if somebody is coming, there will be a moment when the club says, 'Now the financial issue is more important than the sport issue.' We have to do it and try to get the best. That's why I'm always saying, 'I don't know.' Because this is different."

He added: "There will be a threshold where the club has to say [sell] ... If the player says, 'I want to leave' - and the money is above the threshold, it will happen. I'm not so naive, not to know that if a massive offer comes from City and Marc wants to do it, it will happen."