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Marc Guehi has been warned a transfer to Liverpool this summer could scupper his chances of starting for England at the 2026 World Cup.
The Crystal Palace captain wants to seal a move to Anfield before the September 1 deadline with his contract at Selhurst Park into its final year. Palace can ill-afford to lose Guehi for nothing and are in talks with Liverpool over a potential sale but the clubs are still some way apart over their valuation of the 25-year-old.
After lifting the FA Cup with Palace, a switch to Liverpool would thrust the England international into a Premier League title bid before heading into next summer's World Cup in USA. But Guehi has been warned a big obstacle stands in his way should he complete his move to Merseyside - Ibrahima Konate.
The Frenchman is currently the regular partner to Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Reds' defence. And while there is some uncertainty over Konate's future at Liverpool, former England defender Michael Dawson has questioned whether Guehi is good enough to force his way into Arne Slot's starting XI.
“Do I think he [Guehi] is better than Konate at this moment in time? He’s probably one of the best English centre-halves out there, but it’s a big step up,” Dawson said.
“This is going from Crystal Palace to a team that is challenging and going to arguably win the Premier League. Does he play? It’s a big decision for him. If he plays for Crystal Palace this year, he plays for England next summer in the World Cup.
“If he doesn’t and plays for Liverpool, that’s the question mark, will he play enough games to be in that starting team [for England]."
Liverpool is in talks with Palace over a deal for Guehi and are understood to be offering in the region of $40-47million (£30-35m) to sign him.
Palace remain hopeful of keeping Guehi as they prepare for a season where they will also be competing in the Europa Conference League, but boss Oliver Glasner has conceded the centre-back could still depart.
The Eagles are willing to do business for closer to $54m (£40m) rather than risk losing Guehi for nothing when his contract expires next summer. Liverpool could be approaching a similar dilemma with Konate, who is into the final 12 months of his deal but is still considered a key part of Arne Slot's plans.
Liverpool sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen but still have Joe Gomez as back-up. They have also just agreed a $35.2m (£26m) deal for Parma's Giovanni Leoni, thought the 18-year-old is considered one for the future.
Guehi would certainly jump above both Gomez and Leoni in the Liverpool pecking order, but ousting Konate, who was central to their title win last season, would prove a much harder task.
Complicating Guehi's decision could be the lack of guarantees over his England role under new Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel. Guehi was one of England's standout performers when they reached the final of Euro 2024 and impressed alongside John Stones in defence.
But Guehi has played just one of the four matches under Tuchel so far, having missed the last two matches with an eye injury after he was left out by the German for his opening fixture against Albania.
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