'Marc Guehi transfer situation is disaster for Liverpool — and it could get much worse'

Manchester City has not only signed an elite Premier League center back in Marc Guehi, but the club has humiliated Liverpool in the process, with more concerns on the horizon

Liverpool's failure to sign Marc Guehi could impact future transfer plans(Image: 2026 Getty Images)

Sometimes being cheap can actually cost you in the long run, and Liverpool has been dealt a brutal example after defensive target Marc Guehi agreed to sign for Manchester City on Friday.

Liverpool attempted to sign Guehi last summer and was on the verge of completing a $46.5 million deal until Crystal Palace pulled the plug at the last second. The reason was simple. Palace didn't have time to find a replacement.

Months later, Palace has agreed to cut its losses on Guehi and sell him to City for $27 million to avoid him becoming a free agent in June. It's an embarrassing, avoidable situation for Liverpool, and it could lead to further complications for the club.

Liverpool spent a club record $565 million during the previous summer transfer window, acquiring Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Hugo Ekitike. Freddie Woodman was also added as an emergency goalkeeper, and Giovanni Leoni was brought in as a future defensive prospect.

Although the spending was extreme, Liverpool also recouped around $350 million from player sales during one of the largest squad overhauls in a single window. However, for all of the exciting offensive talent, Liverpool failed to sign the central defender it desperately needed.

Virgil van Dijk continues to be a colossus for the club, but Ibrahima Konate has struggled for consistency this season. It's clear that Joe Gomez isn't a first-choice starter, and Leoni suffered a devastating season-ending injury during his Liverpool debut in the EFL Cup.

Marc Guehi's presence would have been instrumental for Liverpool this season(Image: Getty Images)

Hindsight is a wonderful thing in sports, and with Liverpool's clear desperation for another center-back on display during the season, the failed Guehi transfer looked even more calamitous. However, after City agreed to sign him for $20 million less months later, it now looks even worse.

There was speculation that Liverpool was waiting to sign Guehi as a free agent in June, but if that's the case, the club's arrogance has made it look foolish. Liverpool could have signed Guehi early last summer, allowing Palace to find a suitable replacement.

Liverpool must have known that Guehi was still available in January, but failing to act not only took him off the market indefinitely but also allowed a Premier League rival to strengthen significantly. Liverpool still needs to sign a top center-back, and one of the best available has gone. Back to the drawing board.

Guehi will join Manchester City in a deal worth $27 million(Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

For many years, Liverpool's recruitment has been praised, and the club has become known for its ruthlessness in securing deals. Transfers have been completed early, with limited noise and a clear focus.

In recent times, that same strategy has been questioned. When Liverpool bid almost $150 million for midfielder Moises Caicedo in August 2023, it was a major shock to the system, as it was completely unexpected based on how the club had operated.

Liverpool missed out on signing Caicedo to Chelsea, and the impulsive bid followed Fabinho's departure and Jude Bellingham's decision to join Real Madrid rather than move to Anfield. Liverpool still hasn't signed a defensive midfielder, but the fortunate rise of Ryan Gravenberch has helped avoid a disaster.

Ryan Gravenberch helped ease Liverpool's need for a defensive midfielder(Image: Getty Images)

Then, when Liverpool pursued Isak this summer, further signs of a shift emerged. During Jurgen Klopp's tenure, Liverpool would not let transfer sagas drag on for several weeks and months; once a planned move was shut down, the club walked away. Previously, Liverpool would have settled for signing Ekitike, even though Isak is one of the best strikers in world soccer.

While the Isak deal could turn out to be a masterclass, Liverpool fans have questioned why the club was so intent on spending over $200 million on strikers when there was a glaring issue in defense. Now that Guehi has signed for City, that negligence feels even more frustrating.

Head coach Arne Slot has also suggested that Liverpool won't be signing new players this month, putting added strain on the options at his disposal. If that's the case, then Liverpool will have to revise its shortlist in the summer, and every club will be aware of the situation, which could lead to increased fees.

Sporting director Richard Hughes is now under more pressure to resolve the defensive frailties(Image: Kieran McManus/REX/Shutterstock)

Liverpool currently sits fourth in the Premier League table, but achieving Champions League qualification during an inconsistent season is now even more vital. The prize money will be crucial to signing a new defender and attracting the best options available.

Should Liverpool miss out on Champions League qualification, less money will be available, and the club will struggle to attract the caliber of player expected. Slot is aware of the struggles ahead, but suggested ahead of Saturday's game against Burnley that his team will have to weather the storm until the summer.

"I think everyone is aligned about the challenges we are facing," Slot said of his current squad. "That's not to say that we are going to act, but everyone is aligned on what we are facing.

"There's no-one who has a different opinion about it. But that's not to say that anything is going to happen," Slot concluded, referencing activity in the transfer market.