Liverpool make final transfer decision on Marc Guehi after two bids rejected

Marc Guehi remains a Crystal Palace player for now but Premier League champions Liverpool are admirers of the England centre-back and have attempted two transfer bids

Liverpool have no plans to return with a third Marc Guehi bid after seeing two approaches rebuffed, it has been claimed. Crystal Palace have been playing hardball over their captain, with England star Guehi one of a number of in-demand Eagles stars.

Palace appear determined to keep hold of as many senior figures as possible as they gear up for a European campaign. Ebere Eze remains a target for Arsenal, while plenty of clubs are known to be fans of Jean-Philippe Mateta and Liverpool aren’t the only admirers of Guehi.

Newcastle and Tottenham made efforts to sign the defender last summer, but he stayed at Selhurst Park and helped Palace win the FA Cup. Guehi is in the final year of his contract, but that hasn’t seen his team entertain a sale on the cheap.

According to Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness), Palace still want close to £48m for their skipper. Neither of Liverpool’s two offers have hit that mark, and the Reds are now said to be ready to look at alternative targets.

Arne Slot’s side do still need bodies at centre-back, having sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen. Ibrahima Konate has yet to agree an extension to his current deal, which expires next summer, while Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have just two years left on their respective deals.

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Palace and Liverpool are due to face off in Sunday’s Community Shield, after winning the FA Cup and Premier League respectively last term. The match will provide a chance for Guehi to remind the league champions of his quality, though he is not expected to look to force a move away.

Oliver Glasner’s side geared up for the match with a double header against Augsburg, winning one meeting and losing te other. Liverpool also had a double header at the start of the month, winning both games against Athletic Club at Anfield.

“The guys are in top shape; they obviously know the drills. That makes it easy,” Palace boss Glasner said after his team’s final friendly. “Now it’s just a matter of getting match-fit. That’s why they needed 90 minutes of exercise in their legs.

“We actually had another friendly match planned… but now we have a Community Shield against Liverpool instead! But of course, we’re happy to take that. You could say it could be worse!”

Liverpool boss Slot has been impressed with the Reds’ new arrivals as they look to make up for the departure of the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold. “We’ve lost with Trent a lot of creativity from the back,” he said after the Athletic friendlies.

“Trent’s crosses and picking out runners was so special – I think Flo [Florian Wirtz] has this quality as well in a totally different position. But he brings that creativity, the pace of Hugo [Ekitike], the pace of both full-backs – Milos [Kerkez] and Jeremie [Frimpong] today.”

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