Why Marc Guehi transfer to Liverpool collapsed despite deadline-day agreement | Football

Marc Guehi’s much-anticipated £35million move from Crystal Palace to Liverpool collapsed in dramatic fashion on transfer deadline day.

Having been linked with a move to Anfield all summer, Palace finally accepted Liverpool’s bid for the England centre-back on the final day of the transfer window.

Guehi was into the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and while he has continued to play for and captain the Eagles brilliantly, he had no intention of signing a new deal.

Despite protests from manager Oliver Glasner, Palace chairman Steve Parish decided he had no choice but to cash-in on the 25-year-old rather than lose him for nothing next summer.

But the transfer was contingent on the Eagles signing an experienced replacement and they appeared to have done so after agreeing to loan in Igor Julio from arch-rivals Brighton.

With Igor arriving in south London, Guehi was granted permission to undergo his medical with Liverpool, who have also signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a Premier League record £130m.

However, as the medical was taking place, Igor decided against the transfer and instead sought a move to West Ham, with some reports suggesting he was concerned about the amount of game time he would get under Glasner.

Meanwhile, The Guardian claim that Palace called the transfer off due to an issue that emerged in the Brazilian’s medical.

Crystal Palace scrambled to find another centre-back option that could fill Guehi’s huge boots, with AC Milan’s Strahinja Pavlovic the top target.

Jaydee Canvot was signed from Toulouse for just over £20m but the teenager defender is viewed as a long-term addition not a direct replacement for Guehi.

A deal sheet was submitted ahead of the 7pm deadline on Monday for Guehi’s transfer with the player completing the medical, but the final decision fell to Palace.

And the south London club informed Liverpool that Guehi was no longer for sale, with the England defender now remaining at Selhurst Park until at least January.

Before Palace pulled out of a deal with Liverpool, Paul Merson said Guehi would be the ‘signing of the summer’ for the Premier League champions.

‘Guehi is a brilliant player,’ he said on Sky Sports. ‘I really do think he’s a top centre-half – absolute class. He gets into everybody’s team, in my opinion.

‘People might say he doesn’t get in at Arsenal at the moment because of their two centre-halves, but he’d be a great replacement.

‘I know he’ll want to play, but in this day and age, when we’re throwing money like £60m, £80m, £125m about, he’s an absolute bargain for a top, top centre-half.

‘I’ve heard people say, Palace could have got £70m for him last year, but they wouldn’t have won the FA Cup and the Community Shield without him. It was the best £35m saved in history.

‘Getting him for £35m, in football terms that’s a cup of tea. For a 25-year-old international of that calibre, it’s an unbelievable signing. It’s the signing of the window.’

Liverpool’s failure to sign Guehi means the Reds have blocked Joe Gomez from leaving. The fellow England international was linked with AC Milan.

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