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Liverpool Expected to Revive Marc Guehi Interest in January

Liverpool’s defensive concerns have escalated following Giovanni Leoni’s season-ending ACL injury, and according to TBR Football, Crystal Palace are now bracing themselves for a January approach from the Premier League champions for Marc Guehi.

Leoni, who impressed before disaster struck against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, has left Arne Slot short of resources at the heart of defence. “The first thing, he’s not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL, which means that he will be out for around a year,” Slot confirmed. The Dutch coach reflected on the blow, noting, “Being so young, coming to a new country, playing so well in your first game, it’s very hard to take the positive side. No, there’s never a positive side, but yeah, you always try to look at a positive side, and that is that he’s still so young, so that he has so many years still to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”

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Palace Bracing for January Move

Liverpool came close to sealing a £35 million move for Guehi on deadline day, only for Palace to block the transfer at the last moment. The Merseyside club were prepared to wait until 2026, when Guehi had already indicated he would leave Selhurst Park. However, TBR Football now reports that Palace sources expect a winter bid.

Chief correspondent Graeme Bailey told TBR Football: “Palace believe that Liverpool are going to make a January move for Guehi. They said no on deadline day, but they will say no again – I don’t think it can be ruled out that they let him leave.”

The England international’s determination to seek a new challenge is well known. Steve Parish, Palace’s chairman, is said to be reluctantly prepared to sanction a sale, though head coach Oliver Glasner is keen to retain his captain for the remainder of the season.

European Giants Circle

Liverpool are not alone in the chase. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are reportedly circling, with long-term strategies to tempt Guehi on a free transfer. TBR Football understands that the Anfield hierarchy remain confident of persuading him to choose Merseyside, particularly given the immediate opportunity for first-team football.

A source close to the negotiations told TBR Football: “Liverpool believe Guehi is the right profile, with leadership qualities and Premier League experience, and they will not want to risk losing him to Europe’s biggest clubs.”

Defensive Concerns Mounting for Arne Slot

Arne Slot now has only three senior central defenders to call upon. Joe Gomez, who endured a shaky start to the season, was expected to move on last summer but remains on the books. Ibrahima Konate is attracting interest from Premier League rivals, with his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign. TBR Football report that Liverpool intend to tie down the Frenchman before January, but uncertainty lingers.

Slot’s philosophy is clear: two high-level players per position. At present, Liverpool are stretched too thinly. While stopgaps are available, the lack of depth and quality cover makes a January purchase increasingly likely. Guehi is not the only defender being tracked, but he remains firmly at the top of the list.

Liverpool’s recruitment team know that time is against them. Without reinforcements, their hopes of defending their Premier League title and competing deep into the Champions League could be undermined by defensive frailty.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Liverpool supporters will look at this situation with a mixture of expectation and anxiety. On the one hand, the prospect of Guehi arriving at Anfield in January feels like the right move at the right time. He is a Premier League-proven defender, a leader at Crystal Palace, and at 24, has the best years of his career ahead of him. His composure on the ball and ability to marshal a backline are qualities Liverpool fans crave in a squad hit by injuries and uncertainty.

At the same time, scepticism lingers. Palace are not under immediate pressure to sell, and Glasner has been persuasive in convincing Steve Parish to resist previous bids. Losing Guehi midway through the season would represent a seismic blow for the Eagles, who rely heavily on his presence. Liverpool fans may fear this saga dragging out, much like other drawn-out transfer pursuits in recent years.

There is also the spectre of European interest. The thought of Real Madrid or Bayern Munich making a late push could unsettle Liverpool’s plans. If Guehi waits until 2026 for a free transfer, those clubs become strong favourites. That risk heightens the urgency for Liverpool to act decisively in January.

Supporters remain concerned about depth. Joe Gomez’s inconsistent displays and Konate’s uncertain contract situation have exposed the fragility of Slot’s defensive unit. The injury to Leoni only magnifies the pressure. Many will argue that Liverpool should not just sign Guehi, but also consider bringing in another versatile defender to ensure there is no repeat of previous seasons where injuries derailed campaigns.

Expectation is high. Anfield is used to decisive action in the transfer market when the need is pressing, and the January window will be a true test of how far Liverpool’s recruitment team are prepared to go to protect Slot’s first season.