Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has spoken out about the “unusual circumstances” behind Marc Guehi’s failed move to Liverpool.
Parish agreed a £35m deal with the Reds for his captain late in the transfer window but pulled the plug on deadline day.
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England international Guehi had completed his medical in London and even filmed an exit video before being told his move had fallen through.
The real reason Guehi’s Liverpool transfer failed
The Pitch Prospect understands Palace boss Oliver Glasner played a direct role in the defender staying at the club.
Glasner threatened to leave the club if Guehi was sold after failing to sign two centre-backs in the summer window.
The Pitch Prospect understands Guehi has no plans to sign a new Palace contract and will therefore leave Selhurst Park after the World Cup.
Club co-owner and chairman Parish has now explained why he ultimately rejected Liverpool’s £35million offer – despite his talisman set to give up for nothing within a year.
“It’s a difficult decision,” he explained live in the The Pitch Prospect studio, “it’s so simple that these things are never black and white.”
“Ultimately, based on the advice I was given and my opinion, I decided we would have a better season if we kept Marc.
“We don’t second-guess these things. If you look at it rationally, if you look at what the Premier League place is worth, the fact that we’re in the Conference League for the first time in our history, then these are pretty unusual circumstances in which you should keep a player.”
“If we had been fighting between 10th and 14th, if that had been the difference between keeping Marc or letting him go, then we probably would have been right to say, ‘We should take the money.'”
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Who will be Guehi’s successor at Crystal Palace?
Parish also spoke on The Pitch Prospect’s Sunday session about the Eagles’ current succession plans for Guehi next summer.
Jaydee Canvot has already arrived from Toulouse and Palace are also looking forward to Chadi Riad’s return from injury.
“We have Jaydee [Canvot] Who comes in, who will develop as a player we hope,” Parish added.
“We have Chadi [Riad] coming back from an injury. Hopefully we’re doing well. We should be fine and that there won’t be a big loss.
“But given the Conference League and the way we are struggling this season and maybe wanting to reach the top half of the league for the first time, we thought it was a good decision to keep Marc.
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“Chadi is hopefully coming back in October, so in theory we could get to a place where we don’t have to buy one.
“We could get to a point where we don’t have to replace Marc if we keep him all season.”
Will Guehi still move to Liverpool?
According to The Pitch Prospect, Liverpool have no plans to make a bid for Guehi in January; However, that was before Giovanni Leoni’s injury.
Since Leoni will be sidelined for a long time, Arne Slot only has captain Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez available.
Currently, Liverpool are not inclined to make a bid for Guehi in January, knowing the Palace captain will be a free agent next summer.
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It is understood Guehi is content to finish the season and choose his next club after the 2026 World Cup.
The 25 years old will have a number of clubs to choose from next summer, with not only Liverpool still interested in signing him on a free transfer, but also Real Madrid is also said to be among his interested parties.