Liverpool have decided against re-entering the market for key target in the Winter transfer window.
The Reds who failed in the pursuit of Marc Guehi in the Summer Window are not in favor of signing the Crystal Palace star in January despite the defender’s desire to join, according to The Times and The Telegraph.
Premier League champions had agreed on a £35m [$47m] with Crystal Palace on deadline day, but chairman Steve Parish stopped the transfer at the last minute when Palace couldn't find a replacement.
Guehi had already had a medical and settled on personal terms which left him frustrated after he told Palace he wanted to leave.
Liverpool in made a bid of £35m plus a 10% sell-on clause and the offer was accepted on the deadline day but Palace changed their mind under pressure when defender Igor Julio turned down a move from Brighton.
Reports say Parish admitted losing Guehi for free would be a financial problem, but Liverpool are willing to wait until next summer.
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Guehi has one year left on his contract and Palace have failed to convince him to stay.
According to reports, Liverpool believe the pull of Anfield and Guehi’s desire to join them will strengthen their chances of signing the Crystal Palace defender next year despite potential competition.
What Arne Slot has told about how the Liverpool go about getting their target?
Speaking to Sky Sports last month, Arne Slot outlined how Liverpool’s recruitment process is built on planning rather than improvisation and he explained how the club never shifts to a completely new target without long preparation.
“Things can change rapidly in football, especially the last few days of the window," Slot said before the closure of Summer Transfer deadline.
"As I always say, if we think the right player for the right amount of money is there, then we never hesitate, but that’s not the situation this morning."
“We are not a club that all of a sudden comes up with a completely different target than what we’ve thought about for three or four months.”
“This club always finds targets and then we try to sign him. That’s what we did with Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.”
“And if these players say no, it’s not that we jump to someone else we’ve never spoken about before. Of course, we have plan B and plan C, also for Florian and Milos. ”
“We’ve done our homework and I’m part of that homework for months already. Then in the end, we see if we can sign them, and if not we see if we can sign them half a year or a year later.
Liverpool news and related links
- Liverpool identify Bundesliga star as Mohamed Salah's long-term successor
- Liverpool offered 'second chance' on Marc Guehi as England star demands exit
- Alexander Isak makes surprising decision after record Liverpool transfer