Inside the dramatic deadline day collapse of Marc Guehi’s move to Liverpool

Last Updated on 3 September 2025

The final hours of the summer transfer window are often a frantic spectacle, and this year was no exception. For Liverpool and Crystal Palace, it was a day of high-stakes drama that saw a long-awaited transfer for Marc Guehi fall apart at the very last minute.

While Liverpool secured a blockbuster deal for Alexander Isak, their pursuit of the highly-rated England defender ended in disappointment.

So, what exactly went on behind the scenes to cause the collapse of a transfer that seemed all but done?

Marc Guehi to Liverpool: The deal sheet and the medical

For most of deadline day, a move for Marc Guehi to Liverpool looked like a formality. A £35 million fee had been agreed between the two clubs.

The player himself was in London, where he had reportedly already passed the medical.

Liverpool were confident that deal was on track and went as far as submitting a ‘deal sheet’ to the Premier League, granting them an extra two hours after the deadline to finalise the paperwork.

Guehi, who had been a complete professional throughout the saga, had even filmed a goodbye video for Crystal Palace. Everything was in place for a new chapter in his career to begin at Anfield.

Igor Julio to Crystal Palace collapses

The root of the problem, however, lay with Crystal Palace. The Eagles had made it clear that they would only sanction their captain’s departure if they could secure a suitable replacement. This is where the deal hit a fatal snag.

Palace had been actively pursuing Brighton’s Igor Julio on a loan deal. The Brazilian defender was seen as the ideal short-term solution to fill the void left by Guehi.

But in a cruel twist of fate, Igor Julio opted to join West Ham instead, leaving the Eagles scrambling.

While Palace did manage to sign 19-year-old French defender Jaydee Canvot, he was not considered a like-for-like replacement for a player of Guehi’s quality.

The Eagles’ failure to land a senior defender in time triggered a chain reaction that brought the entire deal to a halt.

Oliver Glasner’s ultimatum to Crystal Palace boss Steve Parish

The breakdown of the transfer was further fueled by the strong stance of Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner.

According to reports, the Austrian boss was furious at the prospect of losing his captain so late in the window without an adequate replacement.

As per talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Glasner threatened to resign if the club’s hierarchy went through with Guehi’s sale.

This along with the club’s failure to secure a defensive signing, ultimately led to the decision to pull the plug on the transfer.

Crystal Palace’s chairman, Steve Parish, was reportedly swayed by Glasner’s pleas, despite the club missing out on a significant £35 million windfall.

What’s next for Marc Guehi and Liverpool?

For Marc Guehi, the situation is a complex one. He has less than a year left on his contract and has made it clear he is ready for a new challenge.

While the move to Liverpool has collapsed for now, the saga is not yet over.

Liverpool are expected to reignite their interest in the January transfer window, hoping to secure a cut-price deal.

However, they will face stiff competition. As an impending free agent, Guehi will be allowed to speak to foreign clubs from January 1st, with European giants like Barcelona and Real Madrid reportedly already interested.

The Guehi deal collapse would have hurt Liverpool had they sanctioned the sale of Joe Gomez, who AC Milan were keen on signing.

The stage is now set for a fascinating second act when the transfer window reopens.