Liverpool’s long chase for Marc Guehi seemed close to success this summer — until Crystal Palace pulled the plug at the last minute.
The England defender, seen by many at Anfield as the perfect long-term partner for Virgil van Dijk, was reportedly one step away from sealing the move before talks fell apart in dramatic fashion.
Now, Palace chairman Steve Parish has broken his silence on the decision — and his explanation shows it was all about strategy, not emotion.
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What Steve Parish said on Marc Guehi to Liverpool transfer collapse
Speaking to talkSPORT, Parish shared his reasoning behind turning down Liverpool’s approach.
“We’d have a better season if we kept Marc. It’s a difficult decision. It’s as simple as that — these things are never black and white,” he said.
He added: “I decided in the end that, based on the advice that I got and with what I think, that we would have a better season if we kept Marc.”
Palace’s rise under Oliver Glasner has been nothing short of impressive. After lifting the FA Cup last season and qualifying for Europe for the first time in the club’s history, Parish admitted that stability mattered more than a large transfer fee.
“We don’t guess about these things,” he explained. “If you look at it rationally, if you look at what is worth the place in the Premier League, the fact that we’re in the Conference League for the first time in our history — this is a fairly unusual set of circumstances in which to keep a player.”
But perhaps his most telling comment came later:
“If we were fighting between the difference of 10th and 14th, if that was going to be the difference between keeping Marc and letting Marc go, then probably we would have said right, ‘We should take the money.’”
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Liverpool left to rethink their defensive plans
Liverpool reportedly prioritized attacking signings early in the summer — and by the time they shifted focus to defense, Palace had no time to find a replacement.
The Reds’ new manager Arne Slot, fresh off a Premier League title in his debut season, is known for his structured recruitment approach. But even the best teams need depth, and that’s where Guehi was meant to fit in.
The 25-year-old defender has grown into one of the league’s most reliable center-backs, combining composure, leadership, and consistency. With Palace set for European nights and Guehi still a key part of England’s plans, Liverpool’s interest may only be paused, not ended.
A transfer tug-of-war yet to end
For now, Crystal Palace have won this round. But Liverpool’s history suggests they rarely give up once they identify a target. Guehi’s future could still take another turn when the next transfer window opens — and Anfield will surely be watching.