City and Liverpool in five way battle for star | OneFootball

Liverpool and Manchester City Set for January Battle Over Marc Guehi

Manchester City and Liverpool are poised to go head-to-head for Marc Guehi, with Europe’s giants also circling ahead of the January transfer window. The Daily Star Sunday revealed City’s interest in the Crystal Palace captain two weeks ago, although Pep Guardiola’s side only planned a move if Manuel Akanji or Nathan Ake departed. Eventually, Akanji joined Inter Milan on loan for £13 million, leaving Guehi’s future in limbo.

Palace Stand Firm on Star Defender

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish blocked a £35 million switch to Liverpool before deadline day. It was a bold stance, reflecting both Guehi’s importance to Palace and his leadership role at Selhurst Park. The defender, 25, continues to grow in stature, scoring a wondergoal in Palace’s 3-0 win against Aston Villa last weekend.

Photo IMAGO

City insiders maintained there was little belief Guehi would leave before the summer, but Liverpool remain confident they are still favourites. Like City, they hope Palace might accept a reduced fee in January, with the England international edging closer to free agency in the summer.

European Interest Intensifies

The competition is not limited to the Premier League. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are all monitoring Guehi’s situation. With his contract running down, interest from Europe’s elite is unsurprising. For Palace, the prospect of losing their captain for nothing next summer will weigh heavily in the coming months.

England Recognition and Attitude

Guehi continues to impress on the international stage. In England’s 2-0 win over Andorra, he played 76 minutes before being replaced by Ezri Konsa. Manager Thomas Tuchel praised his professionalism, saying the defender had dealt with the collapse of his Liverpool transfer with a “brilliant attitude”. Tuchel added: “He has continued like that in camp and he handles it [his transfer situation] with respect and with a brilliant attitude. He is the main driver of Crystal Palace’s success, the captain and the leader, and he played very impressively at the end of last season.”

Liverpool’s pursuit will be relentless, but their rivals will not make this chase straightforward.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Liverpool fans will read this report with a mixture of excitement and nerves. Excitement because Guehi looks like the kind of defender who could anchor the backline for years, bringing leadership and composure that would suit Anfield. Nerves because the competition is fierce, and when Real Madrid and Bayern Munich enter the conversation, Liverpool supporters have seen before how such sagas can end.

Arne Slot has made clear that defensive stability underpins his plans, and Guehi would be an upgrade on several current options. For many supporters, the frustration lies in knowing Liverpool were close to a deal already, only for Steve Parish to pull the plug. “If we had moved quicker, he’d already be ours,” one fan might argue.

There is also the financial question. Supporters will wonder whether FSG will back Slot in January or risk waiting until Guehi is free in the summer, a gamble that could see another giant steal in. With memories of losing players to rivals still raw, fans are expectant but also sceptical. Guehi feels like a perfect fit, yet until he pulls on the red shirt, the uncertainty will overshadow the optimism.