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Liverpool may have splashed out £450 million ($592.3M) during the summer transfer window, yet there remains a lingering sense of disappointment over the player who slipped through their fingers.
The Reds had orchestrated a deadline day £35 million ($46M) agreement for Marc Guehi, only for Crystal Palace to scupper the arrangement at the eleventh hour. Guehi had been granted clearance to complete his medical examination with the Reds in London on Sept. 1st.
Nevertheless, Palace's efforts to secure a replacement centre-half collapsed when Brighton and Hove Albion's Igor Julio opted for a loan spell at West Ham United rather than making the switch to Selhurst Park.
Consequently, Guehi's anticipated transfer to Merseyside was abandoned, with Liverpool now anticipated to make a fresh approach next summer when he becomes available as a free agent.
However, the reigning Premier League titleholders are also being mooted as a perfect landing spot for another of Palace's England representatives.
Adam Wharton, who on Friday earned selection in Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad alongside teammates Guehi and Dean Henderson, continues to earn glowing praise at Palace following his bargain £18 million ($23.7M) switch from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024.
His displays have captured the attention of numerous elite clubs across England and Europe, with one former Palace favourite believing the 21 year old deep-lying playmaker would slot seamlessly into life at Anfield.
Ex-Wales midfielder Joe Ledley, who represented the Eagles between 2013 and 2017, commented: "When you're doing so well, there's always going to be clubs floating around, trying to buy your big stars. You can't really compete with that.
"But he [Adam Wharton] is a fantastic player and central midfielder. I've watched him a few times and he's a really creative player, always on the front foot, always looking forward, finding those passes. Still young, too.
"He's represented England as well, so I'm sure there'll be a lot of clubs interested in him - whether it happens [soon] or in a year or two. You want to keep your best players at Palace and he's definitely one of them.
"Time will tell. I think he's had a fantastic start to the season and the end of last season, so hopefully Palace will hand out a few new contracts soon.
"Liverpool would be a good move for him, in that midfield area with [Alexis] Mac Allister. Also, Arsenal. Those sort of teams, the ones that get on the ball and are possession-based, he would suit. So it wouldn't surprise me if those two were interested in January or at the end of season.
"He's really confident on the ball, a good passer moving it back and forward, and is always on the front foot. When he has played against Liverpool, he has been fantastic against them and set up a few goals.
"So, it wouldn't surprise me if it would be Liverpool or Arsenal [that tried to sign Adam Wharton]."
While the Eagles have no desire to part ways with Wharton during the January window, reports suggest they may look to capitalize on Guehi's value in the new year to avoid losing their skipper without compensation next summer.
In a conversation with Gambling.com, a site specializing in ranking and reviewing top online casino and betting sites, Ledley expressed: "It's difficult. It's nice to get money for the player, but with how well they have been performing in the league, maybe it would be all right to lose £30-40m and hopefully get into the Champions League or Europe again. There's pros and cons - I'm not sure.
"Every Palace fan would probably want Guehi there until the end of season, and then bite the bullet and lose him for free.
"But with the business side of it, the chairman would probably want a few million - so there's a 50-50 debate on that. I'd like to see Guehi stay until the end of the season and see how far Palace can go."
Last month, Eagles chairman Steve Parish stated that the club's first season in Europe was the reason for denying his captain's dream move to Liverpool.
Rumours surfaced on deadline day that head coach Oliver Glasner, who was keen to keep Guehi, had threatened to leave if the player did not stay in south London.
Speaking ahead of the 2025 Scottish Masters tournament at Aberdeen's PandJ Live on November 14, where he will represent former club Celtic, Ledley said: "Guehi will probably be leaving in January, if not then the end of the season. The manager obviously loves him, you can see he's a big leader in that team. He's captain as well and you don't want to lose your best players.
"The player probably wasn't happy, because a club like Liverpool would be fantastic to play for. But once the chairman says no, then you just got to go on with it - and Guehi's been fantastic since.
"Some players would have thrown their toys out of the pram and say I'm not playing for the club. But he's continued and he's been a fantastic defender.
"Will they lose him? Definitely - I think in January or the end of the season. But that's down to the chairman and the manager again to go through everything and find a new Guehi."
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