Guehi’s Imminent Transfer
Liverpool are advancing toward signing Crystal Palace’s 24-year-old England centre-back Marc Guehi, with negotiations intensifying as Palace agreed a club-record €55m (£47.1m) deal for Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande as his replacement. Guehi, who has one year left on his contract, informed Palace he will not sign an extension, making a summer transfer likely to avoid a free exit in 2026. Liverpool, having sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m with a €60m buy-back clause, are targeting Guehi to bolster Arne Slot’s defense alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Palace’s Diomande Deal
Palace’s agreement to sign 21-year-old Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP for €55m, below his €80m release clause, clears a major hurdle for Guehi’s departure. Diomande, who started 26 Primeira Liga games in 2024/25 (1 goal, 92% pass accuracy), will sign a five-year contract with a significant pay rise from his €20,000 weekly wage. His 1.8 interceptions per game and excitement for the Premier League make him a direct replacement for Guehi, ensuring Palace’s defensive stability for their Europa League campaign starting September 18, 2025.
Liverpool’s Pursuit
Liverpool’s interest in Guehi, valued at £45m-£50m by Palace, is driven by his 16 England caps and 2024/25 stats (2.1 tackles, 1.4 interceptions per game). Fabrizio Romano noted ongoing talks, with Liverpool presenting Slot’s vision to address Guehi’s demand for guaranteed playing time. The Reds hope to negotiate Palace’s fee down due to Guehi’s contract situation. Liverpool’s £185.6m summer spending, including Florian Wirtz (£116.5m) and Milos Kerkez (£40m), reflects their ambition to defend their Premier League title, but Joe Gomez’s potential exit to Newcastle adds urgency to the deal.
Next Steps
Liverpool aim to finalize Guehi’s transfer before their Club World Cup semi-final on July 3, 2025, allowing integration during their US pre-season tour starting July 26. Palace, with Diomande’s medical scheduled in Lisbon, are set to confirm his signing by July 5, enabling Guehi’s move. Fans on X praise Guehi’s “elite” defending but worry about his minutes with Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté in the squad. Liverpool’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth on August 15 looms, with Guehi’s potential debut crucial for their title defense, while Palace face Chelsea on August 17 with a revamped defense.
