LIV draw up last-minute Marc Guehi plan in bid to complete deadline day transfer

Liverpool have their medical staff ready and waiting in London as they wait to see whether Crystal Palace will choose to cash in on Marc Guehi with an offer on the table

Liverpool are growing increasingly confident that they can secure a late deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi - with staff in London ready to complete a medical if they do get the green light.

The Reds have been linked with the centre-half all summer and Guehi's future has been the main talking point during the Eagles' opening games of the season. He will be out of contract next summer and has no plan to extend his stay at Selhurst Park.

Palace accept that they may have to cash in, although boss Oliver Glasner has made it clear they have to retain the defender as they'll be unable to replace him. Liverpool will not pay over the odds for a player who will be free in 12 months time.

Their £35million offer remains on the table, leaving the Eagles with a decision to make, and Liverpool have staff ready and waiting in the capital should they get the chance to do a medical with the deal likely to go down to the wire.

Guehi helped Palace win the FA Cup last season and then beat the Reds in the Community Shield. He produced a stunning strike on Sunday night to help see off Aston Villa in what could be his last appearance for the Eagles.

Glasner made his feelings clear afterwards as he said: "I told the chairman we have to keep Marc if we want to play a successful season. We have no chance to find the right replacement in one day. We all agreed that we just sell Marc if we have the right replacement in the building.

"We wanted a replacement by 1 July. It is 31 August and we have no replacement. We have this agreement so it is clear from me. He is such a crucial player. He is one of our key players - he is our captain."

Palace have already sold Eberechi Eze this summer, banking £68m, and Glasner will be loathed to see another of his leading lights leave. Newcastle were previously willing to pay more than £60m to land Guehi, but the south London outfit turned it down and chairman Steve Parish admits they could be backed into a corner.

Last month he said: "For players of that calibre to leave on a free, it's a problem for us unfortunately. Joachim [Andersen] went [to Fulham last summer] and we couldn't afford to lose both. We then had another bid [for Guehi] in January but that was a different situation. We'll just have to see what happens. But, you know, it needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind."