Liverpool have been on a spending spree in this summer transfer window as they recently received a breakthrough in their pursuit of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.
However, Arne Slot is also keen on signing another defender mainly due to Ibrahima Konate's injury concerns and the fact they sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen, leaving with hardly any backup.
Therefore, they had targeted Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi as their priority option in defense since the start of the summer.
The England international, who has guided the Eagles to the FA Cup last season and FA Community Shield this season is also eager to make the switch.
With only a single year left in his contract, Crystal Palace have their hands tied but manager Oliver Glasner is not ready to let go of his club captain so late in the window.
On Sunday, Palace registered a 3-0 win over Aston Villa with Guehi scoring a great goal at Villa Park.
While many believed it was his farewell strike for the Eagles, Glasner isn't ready to part ways with the England international.
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"We need to keep Marc if we want to play a successful season," Glasner told the reporters after the win.
"We have an agreement that if we’re selling Marc [Guehi] we have the right replacement in. We wanted to have this replacement at the beginning of the pre-season.
"There’s no replacement in the building, it’s clear one part of the agreement is not fulfilled. That means we can’t sell Marc.
"It’s not a wish or a gift to Oliver Glasner, it’s necessary for playing a successful season.
"It’s a tempting situation but if we want to progress, we have to keep him. If we sell we accept a step back."
According to journalist Alex Crook, Liverpool's progress to land Guehi has taken a major hit following Glasner's comments last night.
Liverpool wont sell Joe Gomez unless Guehi moves to Merseyside
Liverpool looked slightly short on the defensive end in their first two Premier League games as they conceded two goals each against Bournemouth and Newcastle United.
The third league clash saw them win against Arsenal, but Konate was subbed out with a knock and Joe Gomez partnered Virgil van Dijk as Slot's men managed to see off the game.
Apart from Italian young Giovanni Leoni, whom they signed from Parma this summer, Liverpool lack another centre-back option and hence they are pushing for Guehi.
There is still a lot of belief that the English champions will somehow convince Palace and get the deal over the line before the transfer window shuts.
With that hope, Liverpool were open to Gomez's move to AC Milan as Guehi's addition would directly take away minutes from the English defender, who has had his fair share of injuries in recent years.
However, with this update, the Reds are reportedly now interested in letting the 27-year-old move to Italy unless Guehi confirms his switch to Liverpool.
Liverpool news and related links
- Liverpool and Newcastle agree Alexander Isak deal – Where does it rank in top 10 British transfers?
- Szoboszlai screamer sinks Arsenal and keeps Liverpool perfect
- AC Milan wait as Liverpool’s next move decides defender’s future