Liverpool tipped to make second Crystal Palace transfer after Marc Guehi – ‘Wouldn’t surprise me’
Former Crystal Palace midfielder Joe Ledley believes Liverpool would be the perfect club for the Crystal Palace rising star
Marc Guehi on the stage with Adam Wharton and Will Hughes at Selhurst Park during the Crystal Palace FA Cup trophy parade and celebrations on May 26, 2025(Image: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
Liverpool may have spent £450m in the summer but there is still some regret at the one who got away. The Reds had lined-up a deadline day £35m deal for Marc Guehi only for Crystal Palace to pull the plug.
Guehi was given permission to undergo his medical with the Reds in London on September 1. However, Palace’s attempts to replace the centre-back fell through when Brighton & Hove Albion’s Igor Julio chose a loan to West Ham United over a switch to Selhurst Park.
That meant Guehi’s proposed move to Merseyside was cancelled as a result and Liverpool are now expected to return next summer when he will be available on a free transfer.
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But the defending Premier League champions are also being tipped as an ideal destination for another of Palace’s England internationals.
Adam Wharton, who has today (Friday, November 7) been called up to Thomas Tuchel’s latest Three Lions squad alongside club colleagues Guehi and Dean Henderson, continues to generate rave reviews for Palace following his bargain £18m transfer from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024.
His performances have caught the eye of many of England’s and Europe’s top clubs and one ex-Palace star believes the 21-year-old deep-lying playmaker would fit right in at Anfield.
Former Wales midfielder Joe Ledley, who played for the Eagles between 2013 and 2017, said: “When you’re doing so well, there’s always going to be clubs floating around, trying to buy your big stars. You can’t really compete with that.
“But he [Adam Wharton] is a fantastic player and central midfielder. I’ve watched him a few times and he’s a really creative player, always on the front foot, always looking forward, finding those passes. Still young, too.
“He’s represented England as well, so I’m sure there’ll be a lot of clubs interested in him – whether it happens [soon] or in a year or two. You want to keep your best players at Palace and he’s definitely one of them.
“Time will tell. I think he’s had a fantastic start to the season and the end of last season, so hopefully Palace will hand out a few new contracts soon.
“Liverpool would be a good move for him, in that midfield area with [Alexis] Mac Allister. Also, Arsenal. Those sort of teams, the ones that get on the ball and are possession-based, he would suit. So it wouldn’t surprise me if those two were interested in January or at the end of season.
“He’s really confident on the ball, a good passer moving it back and forward, and is always on the front foot. When he has played against Liverpool, he has been fantastic against them and set up a few goals.
“So, it wouldn’t surprise me if it would be Liverpool or Arsenal [that tried to sign Adam Wharton].”
While the Eagles have no intention of letting Wharton leave in the new year, there have been reports they will attempt to cash-in on Guehi in January in order to prevent their captain from leaving on a free transfer next summer.
And Ledley, speaking to Gambling.com, who specialise in ranking and reviewing the best online casino and betting sites, said: “It’s difficult. It’s nice to get money for the player, but with how well they have been performing in the league, maybe it would be all right to lose £30-40m and hopefully get into the Champions League or Europe again. There’s pros and cons – I’m not sure.
“Every Palace fan would probably want Guehi there until the end of season, and then bite the bullet and lose him for free.
“But with the business side of it, the chairman would probably want a few million – so there’s a 50-50 debate on that. I’d like to see Guehi stay until the end of the season and see how far Palace can go.”
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Last month Eagles chairman Steve Parish claimed the club’s maiden season in Europe was the reason for denying his captain’s dream move to Liverpool.
Reports had emerged on deadline day that head coach Oliver Glasner, who was desperate to keep Guehi, had threatened to leave had the player not remained in south London.
And Ledley, speaking ahead of ahead of the 2025 Scottish Masters tournament at Aberdeen’s P&J Live on November 14, where he will represent former club Celtic, said: “Guehi will probably be leaving in January, if not then the end of the season. The manager obviously loves him, you can see he’s a big leader in that team. He’s captain as well and you don’t want to lose your best players.
“The player probably wasn’t happy, because a club like Liverpool would be fantastic to play for. But once the chairman says no, then you just got to go on with it – and Guehi’s been fantastic since.
“Some players would have thrown their toys out of the pram and say I’m not playing for the club. But he’s continued and he’s been a fantastic defender.
“Will they lose him? Definitely – I think in January or the end of the season. But that’s down to the chairman and the manager again to go through everything and find a new Guehi.”
