Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi was on the verge of a dream move to Liverpool, but the transfer collapsed at the very last minute on deadline day. The two clubs had reportedly agreed on a £35 million deal after Guehi’s standout performance against Aston Villa, and he was even given permission to complete his medical. However, the move was suddenly called off when Palace failed to sign their intended replacement, Igor Julio, leaving Guehi in a difficult situation.
🤔 Hodgson’s Sympathy for Guehi
Former Palace manager Roy Hodgson commented on the situation, expressing his sympathy for the young defender. He described Guehi as an “outstanding individual” and said he feels the player is the one who has lost out the most. Hodgson believes that if Guehi had been told from the start that he was staying, he would have accepted it. Instead, being led to believe a deal was happening likely put him in a tough mental space when it fell through. Hodgson suggested the transfer details could have been sorted out much sooner between the clubs.
⏳ A Deadline Day Scramble
The transfer seemed all but certain as the deadline approached. A deal sheet was even submitted to the Premier League to get more time to finalise the paperwork past the 7 pm cut-off. The move was so close to being completed that a farewell video message from Guehi to the Palace fans was reportedly prepared. However, when Palace’s own deal for a new defender collapsed, they made the late decision to pull the plug on Guehi’s transfer to Liverpool, keeping him at the club until at least the January window.
➡️ Future Uncertain for the Defender
The failed move has now created uncertainty around Guehi’s future. Reports suggest that he may now be planning to leave Crystal Palace as a free agent when his contract expires next summer. It is believed he will not sign an extension to stay at the club, which has raised questions about why the transfer wasn’t completed sooner, as Palace now risks losing him for free.
