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Whilst discussions about strengthening attacking positions are dominating Liverpool's transfer business this summer, the hunt for a centre-back is also in progress. Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi has emerged as a primary target for the Reds.
The 25-year-old Eagles captain led his side to victory against Liverpool in Sunday's Community Shield, delivering a composed performance before going off injured.
The England defender has entered the final year of his Palace contract however, leaving the London club with a crucial decision: cash in on their star player this summer or risk losing him for nothing next year - unless fresh terms are agreed.
Guehi attracted Newcastle's attention last summer, with Palace rejecting three offers, including one worth approximately $95 million. Palace stood their ground in 2024, but the same resolve cannot be guaranteed this year.
Following the Community Shield, Palace chairman Steve Parish acknowledged that Guehi might depart this summer, describing losing the player for free as a "problem".
With Liverpool now contemplating a move for Guehi, and former club Chelsea also reportedly interested, Liverpool.com examines the transfer sagas that have established Guehi as one of the Premier League's most sought-after defenders.
Liverpool's stance
The ECHO previously reported Liverpool are interested but club officials are ready to wait on the defender instead of paying a fee this summer, with Palace still looking for a figure in the region of $67M.
Speaking ahead of the Community Shield, Palace boss Oliver Glasner offered no further clarity on the defender's future, reports the Liverpool Echo.
"You have to ask Marc. At the end it's always the player's decision," he said. "Marc decides about his future, and of course everybody wants Marc to sign a new contract, but it will be his decision."
It's been reported that Guehi isn't actively seeking an exit from the Eagles at present, but should the need arise to make a choice, the defender would elect for Liverpool over rivals Newcastle United.
Silly offer
In January, Chelsea's attempt to re-sign Guehi was branded as 'silly'. The Blues had previously sold him to Palace in 2021 for $24M, but their bid to bring him back to Stamford Bridge fell short of Palace's valuation, according to reports.
While Chelsea were prepared to pay $67M, Palace reportedly set their sights on a $95M fee for their prized asset. No deal came to fruition, with a source stating: "Their [Chelsea's] offer was a long way off being a fair price. It was silly really and they need to offer more."
Reflecting on Guehi at the time, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said: "I like Marc for sure but he is not our player" – now speculation mounts over whether Chelsea will renew their efforts to bring Guehi back to his roots.
Chelsea U-turn and transfer clause
Chelsea were eager to keep Guehi on their books in 2021, but Palace's tempting offer led to a change of heart regarding their homegrown talent. The Blues had the intention of including a buy-back clause for Guehi.
In the end, the two clubs settled on a matching rights option for Chelsea, giving them the opportunity to match any future bids for Guehi, alongside a sell-on clause believed to be a substantial 20%.
Guehi's Chelsea stance
Guehi spent two seasons out on loan at Swansea City prior to his Palace move and he believed it steeled him for more minutes in the Premier League.
The centre-half admitted in 2022 that he had no regrets at leaving Chelsea as becoming a first-team regular was vital in his decision to move - something that could deter a switch to Liverpool with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate currently the favoured back two at Anfield.
"Game time for any young player is the key," Guehi said. "Coming off the back of playing in the Championship on a regular basis for any young player that is really important, getting game time.
"The decision to leave Chelsea and come to Palace was the right one, to get that game time and show what I can do. Coming here didn’t mean it was a given I was going to play. For my development it was important to go somewhere permanent, play regularly, and feel at home somewhere."
Thomas Tuchel has no regrets
The former Chelsea manager, now England head coach, Tuchel expressed no regret over Guehi's departure in 2021. "It's a fantastic development and it's very hard to know if we kept him what would've happened," the German said following Guehi's debut season with Palace.
He added: "Maybe he needed a change, a different club, a bigger role, more minutes to develop his full potential." While Chelsea's current view on Guehi might hint at second thoughts about letting him go, Tuchel stood by his decision, saying: "I am happy with these decisions and it was the right thing to do given the circumstances."
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