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Liverpool continues to pursue Marc Guehi amidst a transfer battle at Crystal Palace. Palace chairman Steve Parish has suggested the Eagles are prepared to sell despite already losing Eberechi Eze, who is poised to join Arsenal in a $90 million (£67.5m) move.
However, Palace manager Oliver Glasner has maintained they cannot afford to let Guehi depart Selhurst Park so late in the window when finding a replacement would prove challenging.
At the center of this predicament lies Palace's concern that it could lose Guehi for nothing next summer, having rejected $94M (£70m) offers for the England defender last summer. That choice could return to bite as Newcastle was prepared to spend heavily to secure Guehi, who now has just one year remaining on his deal.
Despite the uncertainty, Liverpool remains interested in Guehi and is willing to complete a deal before this window closes, but won't overpay knowing he'll become a free agent next summer, reports The Mirror.
It would be difficult to envisage Liverpool spending more than $40M (£30m) this summer whilst Palace still rate him closer to $60M (£45m) with his contract winding down.
Parish cautioned: "It's a difficult situation, everyone has to sell players to comply with the rules."
Glasner holds Guehi in high regard both as a player and as his captain and leader, which becomes even more crucial now that Eze has departed.
Glasner, speaking following Palace's Europa Conference League victory over Fredikstad on Thursday evening, said: "'If Marc leaves maybe I will try my boots because I was a centre back. We have to act. It's Crystal Palace's future and we need to add numbers.
"We are very, very late. It's 10 days to go [until the transfer window closes] to find the right replacements. I think we could have done much better than we did. It's no criticism, it's just telling facts.
"I just know if Marc leaves and is not available for Frederikstad, we will have big troubles. That's pretty clear. We can't register anyone. So from my side, he has to stay.
Liverpool remains in discussions regarding Guehi, whom it views as a robust, experienced and calm defender with significant potential at Anfield.
Despite its substantial summer expenditure, Liverpool has also offloaded players and retains the capacity to secure both Guehi and Newcastle's Alexander Isak before the transfer window closes.
However, the Reds will not be subjected to extortionate demands as they recognize they can pursue him next year without a fee, though other clubs are likely to be interested in a leading England defender available on a free transfer.
Palace's worries over Guehi have been amplified by Eze's imminent exit, with the England international poised to join Arsenal this weekend as he prepares for a medical and finalises his switch.
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