Marc Guehi To Liverpool: Reds determined to wait for Crystal Palace star

When assessing the best betting offers and free bets ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, fans were left wondering exactly who would line up for whom when the window slammed shut. Would Liverpool boost their already impressive squad with the late captures of Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi?

In the end, the Swedish hitman did make the switch from Newcastle United, much to the chagrin of fans of the Black and Whites. However, the on-and-off Guehi saga dramatically ended with the Crystal Palace centre-back remaining at Crystal Palace.

Despite having passed his medical and reportedly had his promotional photographs taken in the Liverpool red, Palace were unable to secure a replacement and pulled the plug at the eleventh hour.

Disappointing as that news was for Liverpool fans, many believed the late blip represented no more than a delay in the transfer, with the player expected to join Liverpool in January or on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. However, a move in January now appears to be off the table.

Reds to Play the Waiting Game

With Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike joining in the summer, Liverpool have no concerns at the top end of the pitch. Likewise, in midfield, where newly acquired Florian Wirtz adds to a stellar array of options. However, if there is a hole in the squad, it may lie at the centre of defence, where cover is not as deep as fans would like. Giovanni Leoni has arrived from Parma, but at 18 years of age, he may not yet be ready for the heat of Premier League battle.

Widely admired throughout the league for his distribution, reading of the game, and composure, Guéhi would make a more than able partner for Virgil van Dijk. Crucially, the 25-year-old is also Premier League proven and could slot straight into the side if snapped up in January.

All of which would make a second swoop in January a popular move with the Anfield faithful. However, recent reports suggest that Liverpool are more likely to wait and snap up the England international on a free transfer, rather than shell out a significant transfer fee in the post-Christmas transfer window.

Things may change if Liverpool experience defensive issues in the opening stages of the campaign, but overall, this approach reflects the type of sensible strategy that has served Liverpool so well in the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) era.

Could Another Club Make a January Move?

While Liverpool are understandably drawn to the free transfer route, those plans could be scuppered if another side makes a significant bid in January, and there are candidates who might.

Linked with almost every big-name player on the market, Chelsea are reportedly monitoring the situation, with Tottenham Hotspur being another London club with an alleged interest. Further north, Newcastle United had a series of bids rejected by Crystal Palace in the 2024 summer window. Could the Magpies use some of the Isak cash to disrupt Liverpool’s plans? The capture of Malick Thiaw from AC Milan makes a bid less likely, but Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is a long-time admirer of the player.

Ultimately, the decision may rest with Guéhi himself. Given the impeccable manner in which he has conducted himself during the saga, the defensive rock deserves to have the final say in where he heads next.

The Guéhi to Liverpool saga may have left the news for now, but don’t be surprised to see it return to the headlines in January.