Arne Slot calls failed Marc Guehi move a ‘pity’, hints Liverpool could reignite interest
Updated 12/09/2025 at 15:42 GMT+1
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Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted it was a "pity" to have failed in a deadline day move for Marc Guehi, but hinted that the club may look to sign the player again in the future. Guehi is said to have been undergoing his Liverpool medical, only for Crystal Palace to pull out of the deal amid their failure to find a replacement for the England international.
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Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted it was a "pity" to have failed in a deadline day move for Marc Guehi, but hinted that the club may look to sign the player again in the future.
Crystal Palace skipper Guehi was widely reported to have been having a medical ahead of a £35m move to Liverpool, only for the south Londoners to opt out of the sale amid Eagles manager Oliver Glasner's insistence on keeping the England international.
Guehi is in the final year of his Palace contract, and chairman Steve Parish admitted in August that the club did not want to lose the 25-year-old for free next summer.
However, Glasner has been public in his insistence on keeping Guehi, stressing in the final few days of the transfer window that there was "no time" to bring in a viable replacement for the defender, who was central to the side that won last term's FA Cup.
On the failed Guehi move, Slot said: "It would be ridiculous if I were to deny we were close to signing him. That is so out in the open. These things happen in football.
"We would have liked to have signed him, of course. If we feel we can strengthen the team, we never hesitate to do so.
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Marc Guehi of England celebrates his team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Serbia and England
Image credit: Getty Images
"It's not like all of a sudden we don't have options in that position. It's a pity, not only for us but also for the player, I think.
"But he's in a good place, playing for Palace, where he won the Charity Shield and the FA Cup with a very good manager as well.
"Let's see what the future brings for him and for us."
Liverpool spent around £450m, inclusive of add-ons, this summer, but their title chances hinge heavily on a 34-year-old Virgil van Dijk remaining fit, and Ibrahima Konate rediscovering his best form.
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The latter has just a year remaining on his Liverpool deal and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Liverpool signed teenage Italian centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £26m this summer, while Joe Gomez remains an able understudy to the aforementioned duo.
Glasner denies threatening to quit Crystal Palace
Glasner denied claims he threatened to quit the club if Guehi left for Liverpool on deadline day, while he praised the Palace skipper for his conduct during the summer saga.
"I think it’s the last time I want to talk about it," Glasner said. "Crystal Palace fans deserve to really hear how it was. So many things were written. Number one: I never threatened to leave the club. Never."
Upon confirming that Guehi would remain club captain, Glasner added: "Sometimes my children would like to have something. And then you have to say, sorry, this time not. And they're disappointed. But the next day, it's gone.
"Guehi signed the contract here many years ago. No one forced him to. Credit to him - he never went on strike, never threatened to do so. He’s an honest person. I was never worried about the situation.
"We always have an open and honest relationship. I always talk openly to every player about their situation, and I expect the same from them.
"I knew about everything going on directly from Marc; we spoke about it, then it happened. It was not surprising for him, because he knew mine and the club’s point of view.
"In the end, it’s good to have him here. Every Palace supporter is happy that Marc will play at least three and a half more months, then we will see what happens again."
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