Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot has confirmed that the Reds got here agonisingly near signing Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi this summer time, however the deal in the end collapsed within the last hours of the switch window.
Slot, talking at a pre-Burnley press convention, was frank about how issues virtually got here collectively but for one motive or one other didn’t.
Liverpool had agreed on a price within the area of £35 million with Crystal Palace, and a deal sheet had even been submitted earlier than the deadline. Guehi, 25, was poised to make the transfer to Anfield.
Arne Slot continues to be monitoring Marc Guehi
Nevertheless, regardless of these preparations, Palace determined in the long run to not promote. Slot admitted that though the collapse was disappointing, such twists are a part of the switch recreation.
Slot stated, as reported by Empire of the Kop:
“I feel it could be ridiculous if I’m going to disclaim we have been near signing [Guehi], that’s so out within the open that that may be ridiculous.
“This stuff occur in soccer… within the final second, issues change. This will occur.”
Though Slot admitted Guehi virtually joined the Reds, he praised the present defensive choices he has in his squad:
“For me, we wish to signal him in fact, as a result of we have been in for him,” he continued.
“However we performed Arsenal the place Virgil and Ibou performed an excellent recreation and Joe got here in 20 minutes earlier than the tip and did excellent as effectively.”
What subsequent for Guehi?
Nonetheless, the collapse has left each membership and participant in a clumsy place. Guehi has reportedly been left extraordinarily sad with how shut the deal acquired earlier than being pulled on the final minute.
He had travelled for a medical and every part appeared so as, just for Palace to withdraw their sanction once they have been unable to safe an satisfactory substitute for his or her captain.
Along with his contract getting into its last 12 months, hypothesis is already mounting over when and the way Liverpool, or probably different golf equipment, would possibly make one other run to safe Guehi’s providers.
January seems a risk, although many sources counsel {that a} transfer on a free switch in the summertime of 2026 could also be extra lifelike, particularly if Palace are unwilling or unable to satisfy the participant’s ambitions.
Arne Slot on the “factor that pleases me essentially the most” about Alexander Isak’s switch to Liverpool
