Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish opens up on Marc Guehi’s failed Liverpool move | OneFootball

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has confirmed that Marc Guehi now has the freedom to choose his next club after his proposed move to Liverpool collapsed on deadline day.

Guehi was close to joining the Reds before Palace pulled the plug at the last minute.

The 25-year-old centre-back has been a staple of Palace’s defence for the past couple of years, and he was rewarded for his consistency with the captain’s armband.

Despite his commitment to the Eagles, Guehi was heavily expected to get his big move, but Palace were reluctant to lose another one of their prized assets.

They had already parted ways with Eberechi Eze, who completed an initial £60 million move to Arsenal.

The prospect of losing Guehi in the same transfer window could have had devastating consequences for Oliver Glasner’s side, so they were forced to re-evaluate their options.

Despite having just one year left on his contract, Palace decided to keep him at Selhurst Park and have now made peace with the fact that he will leave the club on a free transfer next summer.

On paper, it’s good news for Liverpool. They could eventually secure his services without paying a dime in transfer fees.

However, Guehi’s availability on a free transfer has alerted several clubs across Europe, so Liverpool would need to prepare for a fierce battle to land his signature.

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are thought to be in the mix, while Premier League trio Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur are also expected to throw their hats in the ring.

Palace got to keep their “intelligent” defender, but it came at a steep price. Parish said it was one of the toughest calls the club has made, but he believes they made the right decision.

“They’d made an offer – it was Liverpool,” he said on the Men in Blazers podcast.

“It was a massive club, and he was obviously interested in going. But he was fine about it, staying, if that was the decision we made.

“Obviously, it means all of the ball is in his court tremendously as a player, and he’s got the choice of wherever he wants to go. It was a very difficult one, but I think definitely the right one.”