Marc Guehi gets Liverpool transfer warning with £35m move causing divide

Liverpool have attempted to sign Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi this summer, but former Arsenal forward Ian Wright feels it wouldn't be the right time to move to Anfield for the England ace

Ian Wright has urged Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi to snub any further advances from Liverpool this summer to protect his chances of representing England in the 2026 World Cup. Despite having held discussions with the current Premier League champions, it's understood that there's a gap in valuations between the two clubs.

Football can be unpredictable and a move is still possible this month. But Palace manager Oliver Glasner is reluctant to let his Community Shield-winning captain depart as the new season begins this weekend.

The 25-year-old looks more likely to now leave on a free transfer next summer – should he not renew his contract – giving Liverpool the opportunity to wait and sign him without having to pay a fee.

Liverpool currently have a few options at centre-back, including Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate. However, with Jarell Quansah now at Bayer Leverkusen, Arne Slot is looking for another addition to the defence.

Fortunately for the Reds, they have just finalised a £26million deal with Italian side Parma for 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni. A medical has been scheduled, potentially putting an end to any late summer move for Guehi – much to Wright's apparent satisfaction.

Guehi remains on their radar, though, and could potentially be secured on a reduced fee before the transfer window closes or as a free agent next summer.

Yet Premier League icon Wright believes a move this summer would be detrimental to Guehi, considering the upcoming international preparations for next year's World Cup.

Speaking on The Overlap's Stick to Football podcast, the former Arsenal striker insists the 25-year-old should remain in south London for another campaign. Wright said: "If you look at someone like Guehi right, why would you leave now? It's a World Cup year, you don't want to go somewhere you might not play because Konate's still there isn't he?"

Fellow pundits Gary Neville and Roy Keane suggested that Guehi's mentality would likely focus on securing a starting position with the Reds, but Wright countered by adding: "Will he start if Konate is there? Will he start?"

Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher offered his perspective, suggesting that Guehi could arrive at Anfield and challenge Konate for the starting spot, given his credentials as an international performer and Palace success story.

The ex-Reds defender said: "I think the fact that he [Konate] is injury prone and the fact he hasn't signed as well. The longer he doesn't sign, I think the more the manager will say, 'If you're not committed, you're not playing.'

"Because before, Liverpool had them two centre-backs and the lad behind him was Quansah who's left, that wasn't competition, that was just an understudy. He's [Guehi] an England international. This is like, 'I'm going for your place, Im fighting with you for the position', and the longer he doesn't sign."

Regarding their pursuit of Guehi, Liverpool launched the opening bid with an offer reaching £35m – £30m upfront plus £5m in performance-related bonuses. Though no deal appears likely with the difference in valuations, and Guehi is willing to honour his current contract this season at Selhurst Park.

For Leoni, meanwhile, he is set to immediately join the first team, with a loan move being dismissed. Leoni will join Liverpool's other major summer acquisitions, including Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike as they prepare for the new season.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, boss Slot remained tight-lipped regarding his views on Guehi, deflecting enquiries towards Palace rather than the centre-back's potential new destination.

Addressing both Leoni and Guehi, he said: "The clubs have agreed a deal but he hasn't signed for us yet. The moment when he signs for us, I can go into more detail.

"And the other one (Guehi) is of course the answer you always get from me. No, (I cannot go into more detail) because he is not our player and unfortunately he was the captain of the team where we lost against last Sunday.

"No, if you want to have any talks about him, you should go to Palace, to (Oliver) Glasner and ask him his opinion about him."