Palace counter-offer ‘rejected’ by Reds as Guehi bid made

Liverpool have reportedly rejected Crystal Palace’s proposal to include Joe Gomez on loan in a deal that would see Marc Guehi make a permanent switch to Anfield.

The Reds will take part in a title showdown against visiting rivals Arsenal on Sunday, and the match could be a defining moment in each side’s season.

Arne Slot’s team have proven vulnerable at the back this term, with the club conceding four times in their opening two Premier League fixtures.

Liverpool have been linked to the signature of Palace centre-back Guehi, who has just a year left on his deal, though the Eagles may find it difficult to source a replacement considering the transfer window closes on Monday.

BBC Sport claim that while Liverpool have lodged a bid for the defender in the region of £35m, they have no intention of allowing Gomez to join Palace on loan as a makeweight in the deal to sign Guehi.

Can Marc Guehi claim Ibrahima Konate’s starting spot?

Centre-back Virgil van Dijk has excelled this season despite his side’s defensive frailties, and he has often had to make up for the mistakes of teammate Ibrahima Konate.

The Frenchman was among the division’s best last term, but his start to 2025-26 has been poor, and there are fears that he may be distracted by rumours linking him to Real Madrid.

Konate’s contract expires at the end of the season, and given Real have convinced the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Trent Alexander-Arnold to run down their deals in the past, Slot could face the prospect of needing to replace the defender sooner rather than later.

Guehi has been a stalwart for Palace on the left side of a back three, so he would have to switch side’s at Liverpool if he was to take Konate’s spot.

The Englishman is not as strong in the air as the Reds defender – Konate won 71% of his aerial duels compared to Guehi’s 54% in 2024-25 – but he is arguably much more developed with the ball at his feet, and he could help Liverpool control games in possession.

Does Arne Slot have enough defenders in his Liverpool squad?

Following the sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool brought in 18 year old Giovanni Leoni from Parma, though it is not clear at this stage whether he would be trusted to play a significant role.

Joe Gomez has contributed immensely to the Merseysiders’ success since arriving in the summer of 2015, but he has frequently been beset by injury issues, and he may not be able to be relied upon from a fitness perspective.

Konate also has a troubling injury history, though he did manage to feature in career-high 31 Premier League games last term.

Bringing in Guehi would be a sensible idea, especially as he has considerable experience in the English top flight, and his familiarity on the left could also give Slot the option of resting Van Dijk at key stages of 2025-26.

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