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Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda says Liverpool could lose out on Marc Guehi again next summer — tipping the Stamford Bridge side to enter the race for the center-back.
Guehi was blocked from joining Liverpool on transfer deadline day after Crystal Palace failed to find a suitable replacement for manager Oliver Glasner. But in 2026, the England international could move on a free when his contract expires.
Liverpool brought in Giovanni Leoni from Parma in the summer but also wanted to sign Guehi too. Instead, Joe Gomez was kept around to ensure that the Reds had enough numbers in defense.
Arne Slot is expected to go back in for Guehi next year, though. Signing him without a transfer fee would represent a coup given that the 25-year-old has established himself at international level under Thomas Tuchel.
Guehi scored for England earlier this week in an impressive 5-0 win over Serbia in World Cup qualifying. Heading into the tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada, he looks in line to be a regular starter.
However, Malouda believes that while Liverpool is confident Guehi will still want to move to Anfield in the future, other clubs including Chelsea could enter the race.
"Marc Guehi would be a great addition for Chelsea," he told Boyle Sports. "I don't know what the conditions would be, but I think it's also about how badly he wants to come to Chelsea.
"That's the way you have to look at it, because he's a talented player. He showed with Palace that he's able to deliver and perform. Now it's more about how you approach a player like this and have a real plan for him to make an impact in your first team.
"I think the goal would be to increase the competition in the defence and to bring in a player who plays for the national team. A lot of things could happen in January based on that.
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"For example, if Chelsea qualify for the Champions League knockout stage, that's also something that could attract players. So I think he could be a good pick for Chelsea because he would have no problem settling in."
Guehi will face Liverpool later this month in the Premier League when Slot's side visits Selhurst Park. He previously played for Chelsea, who let him go as a young player, feeling that he wasn't ready for the first team.
Liverpool.com says: Guehi is a really solid pro. While he doesn't perhaps have the same ceiling as Ibrahima Konate, he is probably more consistent, and he ticks the homegrown box too.
Bringing him in for this season would have been ideal. However, getting him for nothing next summer would be a very good signing as well, regardless of what happens with Konate's future.
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