Liverpool's hopes of signing Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi in the January transfer window have been dealt a blow. The Reds attempted to sign Guehi during the summer, but the deal fell through in the closing stages of the transfer window.
A £35million agreement was reached between Liverpool and Palace for Guehi's services on deadline day, before that 11th hour U-turn. Guehi in turn stayed put at Palace for at least the first half of the season.
Guehi's contract with Palace expires at the end of the season - allowing the England international to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside England from January onwards if he chooses to do so.
Liverpool remain strongly linked with a move for Guehi in January, along with several other Premier League clubs and teams abroad. That's as per reports from the Liverpool ECHO.
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However, BBC Sport has now also reported that Guehi is expected to stay put at Palace for the rest of the season and see out the final six months of his contract. Consequently, it's suggested that Guehi is likely to join a new club as a free agent during, or before, the January transfer window.
Liverpool have had to contend with numerous injury problems this season, particularly in the centre-back position. Summer recruit Giovanni Leoni is side-lined for the rest of the season, owing to a knee injury, while Joe Gomez has also spent time out of action this term.
It's yet to be seen whether Liverpool will make a swoop for Guehi in the January transfer window, consider other options or decide against bolstering their defence.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner revealed back in October that he expects Guehi to leave the club on a free transfer, with the Eagles manager disclosing that Guehi has no plans to renew his contract.
"I think Marc has already told us that he doesn't sign a new contract, so he will leave next year," said Glasner. The club wanted him to stay.
"They offered Marc a new contract. But he said; 'No, I want to make something different'. And that's normal.
"And for us, it's how we can deal with this situation?
"(What) is the best way to get this next step done? And that's all about how we are talking together."
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