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Liverpool could attempt a dramatic eleventh-hour hijack of Marc Guehi’s proposed move to Manchester City, though the Crystal Palace defender’s transfer to the Premier League champions appears too far advanced for the Reds to successfully intervene at this late stage.
Liverpool Face Uphill Battle to Hijack Marc Guehi’s Advanced Man City Move
Guehi’s proposed move to Man City is likely too far along for Liverpool to pull off a hijack at this stage, according to reports suggesting the England international is close to completing his switch to the Etihad Stadium. The 25-year-old centre-back has emerged as a priority target for Pep Guardiola’s side following injuries to Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, which gave City the impetus to step up their interest in the Crystal Palace captain.
Liverpool’s collapsed deal for Guehi in the summer was entirely their own doing as they wasted far too much time before striking a £35m agreement with Crystal Palace. The Eagles had no choice but to pull the plug on deadline day over their inability to source a suitable replacement, despite Guehi reportedly having one foot at Anfield during the final weeks of the transfer window.
By all accounts, Guehi had been keen on joining Liverpool in the summer and they remained frontrunners for his services in recent months following their failed approach. However, their inability to complete the deal opened the door for other clubs to make serious moves for the defender’s services, with Manchester City capitalizing on Liverpool’s hesitation to advance their own negotiations.
The arrivals of Guehi and Antoine Semenyo would provide a significant shot in the arm for Man City’s title challenge, while Liverpool have been punished for standing still in the transfer market. The Reds will miss out on their top centre-back target unless there is a rather dramatic hijack before the window closes, though such a scenario appears increasingly unlikely given City’s advanced position in negotiations.
Man City’s proactive approach contrasts sharply with Liverpool’s summer dithering, highlighting how transfer windows can shift dramatically when clubs fail to act decisively on their primary targets.
