Marc Guehi advised by Gary Lineker on next course of action after Liverpool pain
Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has important decisions to make over his future after his £35million transfer to Liverpool fell through in the final hours of transfer deadline day
Gary Lineker has told Marc Guehi to stay at Crystal Palace for another season and leave on a lucrative free transfer after his Liverpool move fell through. The Premier League champions secured the British record-breaking £125million signing of Alexander Isak on deadline day.
They then moved to make Palace captain Guehi their ninth summer acquisition after weeks of transfer speculation. Liverpool and Palace, who faced off in last month’s Community Shield, were able to strike a £35million agreement for the 25-year-old defender.
But despite the Reds even submitting a deal sheet in order to complete the transfer, the move collapsed in the final hours of the window on Monday as the Eagles couldn’t secure a replacement in time. England international Guehi, whose contract runs out next summer, now has the option of signing a new deal, leaving in January for a lower fee or holding out until the end of the season before leaving Palace as a free agent.
READ MORE: Marc Guehi decides his next move after being left furious at Liverpool transfer collapseREAD MORE: Alan Shearer perfectly sums up Marc Guehi and Liverpool saga after transfer collapsed
Former Match of the Day presenter Lineker thinks the centre-back should choose the last option, which represents the smarter financial move for Guehi as free agents typically command better wages and signing-on fees.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker began by saying: “I did feel a bit for Marc Guehi because he’d seemingly behaved admirably and didn’t get his move. I also categorically expect him to pitch up next week, very stoically, and will probably remain captain.
“If I were him now, I wouldn’t try to get the move in January, I would now wait until the end of my contract which is next summer and go on a free. Because they’ve used him a little bit, there’s no question about that.
“To take it that far, on the brink of a transfer and then be pulled back was tough on him. But he’ll get a better deal for himself next summer, certainly financially. Who knows whether Liverpool will still be in for him, somebody will because he’s a class act.”
Guehi will have his sights set on the World Cup next summer too, and remaining at Palace for now means he’ll at least be guaranteed regular playing time. Lineker continued: “He’s still just coming into his prime so he’ll be in great shape next year.”
Podcast co-host Alan Shearer then replied: “I do feel for Guehi because he did things as professionally as he could. On the other hand you’re right, financially he should benefit hugely from it.”
There’s a sense that Guehi behaved with class throughout the summer and didn’t try to force a transfer, whilst other high-profile stars effectively downed tools to secure moves.
But The Guardian reports the defender has been left furious with Palace’s last-minute decision to block his switch to Anfield, having completed a medical in London to seal his Liverpool move on Monday.
It was also reported that Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner threatened to quit if Guehi was sold to Liverpool. That was after the Eagles failed to bring in Brighton defender Igor Julio, who was seen as a potential replacement for Guehi but instead opted for a season-long loan at West Ham.
Guehi captained Palace to victory in last season’s FA Cup final and scored a stunning first goal of the season in a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at the weekend. The Times report that Guehi is currently planning to leave Palace as a free agent next summer and will not sign an extension to remain at Selhurst Park.
That would leave Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as Liverpool’s first-choice centre-backs until at least January, with Joe Gomez providing cover for the duo. Giovanni Leoni could also get game time, following the 18-year-old’s summer arrival from Parma for around £26m.
Guehi, meanwhile, could be back in action for Palace as soon as next Saturday when they host Sunderland in the Premier League.
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