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Oliver Glasner has revealed he expects Marc Guehi to remain at Crystal Palace beyond the January transfer window, which would rule out a mid-season move to Liverpool.
The Reds came close to concluding a deal for the England international on deadline day, but the transfer was scuppered at the 11th hour when Igor Julio, Guehi’s replacement, opted to join West Ham United instead of Palace.
It meant the Eagles pulled the plug on Guehi’s transfer to Anfield, leaving Liverpool short of center-back options this campaign. That problem has been exacerbated by the season-ending injury suffered by Giovanni Leoni on his debut for the club in September.
Joe Gomez is also currently struggling with a knock, meaning Liverpool could head to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday with just two fit senior center-back options in Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate and big concerns.
Ryan Gravenberch, Andy Robertson and Wataru Endo have also been deployed at the heart of defense at times this season, although the latter is also currently injured.
The lack of defensive options has led to repeated links that Liverpool could return for Guehi in January. The player’s contract expires at the end of the campaign and chairman Steve Parish has been outspoken on the club’s need to make some form of profit on Guehi.
There is no expectation that the 25-year-old will sign an extension at Selhurst Park, with teammate Adam Wharton even recently admitting that he expects Guehi to move on.
But speaking on Wednesday ahead of the Conference League encounter against Finnish side Kuopion Palloseura, Glasner delivered a disappointing update.
“I think Marc will stay until the end of the season,” the Austrian head coach announced, somewhat surprisingly.
If Guehi is set to remain at Palace beyond January, Liverpool may need to recalibrate its transfer plans – although Arne Slot has repeatedly stated the Reds can manage with their current defensive options.
Liverpool is also expected to face competition for the player’s signature, with the Premier League’s elite club known to be keen on the defender.
For Guehi, completing the season in West London offers the opportunity to collect more silverware with the Eagles. The ex-Chelsea youngster captained Palace to its first-ever trophy success in May, before also lifting the Community Shield aloft at Wembley less than three months later.
That victory came against Liverpool, one of three Guehi has been involved in this season, alongside successes in the Premier League and Carabao Cup.
Palace’s no.6 is also expected to play an integral role for England at next summer’s World Cup, and is likely to start at center-back with John Stones or Ezri Konsa.
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