Liverpool told to learn from Marc Guehi 'mistake' as Arne Slot given transfer instruction

Liverpool looked to have signed Marc Guehi in the summer only for the transfer move break down at the last minute, with the Reds being urged to go back in this month

Crystal Palace center-back Marc Guehi.(Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

Liverpool almost signed Marc Guehi in the summer transfer window, only for the deal to break down at the last minute, and a few months later, several more clubs have joined the race for his signature.

Guehi could leave Crystal Palace this month, manager Oliver Glasner has already admitted. However, if he stays at Selhurst Park until the summer, he will then become a free agent.

The England ace, at that point, would essentially have his pick from most of the big teams around Europe. Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City are keen in the Premier League, supposedly alongside Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and others.

Reds legend John Aldridge, however, believes Liverpool needs to get ahead of the chasing pack and sign Guehi this month, even though a delay for a few months looks likelier.

Manchester City is sniffing around amid a center-back injury crisis for Pep Guardiola, while Arsenal looks well placed to win the league title this season and could also be appealing.

At Anfield, though, with Giovanni Leoni not set to play again until next season, no progress yet on a new contract for Ibrahima Konate, and Virgil van Dijk turning 35 this year, bringing in a defender now or in the summer is a major priority.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa at Selhurst Park on January 07, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)

"We need to keep [Joe Gomez] free from injury because we’re going to need him to help keep everyone else fit and firing," Aldridge wrote in his Liverpool ECHO column.

"We don’t actually need a new right-back. Conor Bradley will come back stronger and there’s still Joe, Jeremie Frimpong and even Dominik Szoboszlai.

"But we do need a new center-back. Especially if Joe or Konate got injured.

"I don’t know what’s happening with Marc Guehi but obviously they tried to sign him in the summer. They left it until the last minute and missed out. Liverpool need to learn from that mistake.

"We spent over £400M ($600M) in the summer, which is a fair bit of money, so maybe the money isn’t there. But if Guehi is available and we can afford him, we have to go and get him now. He’s up there with the best in the Premier League.

"OK, he’s no Franz Beckenbauer. But he would improve us. If we need him, which I think we do, go and get him."

Guehi's move broke down on September 1 because Crystal Palace failed to source a replacement. Should the South London side find someone this month and a team was to come in with a big enough offer to make selling the 25-year-old tempting, it is possible he could depart. Should Guehi stay and then move at the end of the season, Liverpool should remain at the front of the queue.

Liverpool.com says: Guehi would be an ideal option on a free. He is Premier League-proven, homegrown and could slot straight into the starting XI.

Signing him this month would be good too, of course, but it would take a substantial fee. The question is whether that can be justified and whether it would make the difference in terms of chasing silverware and a Champions League place.