It seems increasingly likely that Liverpool might be priced out of pursuing one of their reported transfer targets this summer.
Liverpool have been linked with Marc Guehi for several months (Fabrizio Romano), though other reports suggest that the Crystal Palace defender is not currently a target for the club (David Anderson).
According to Football Insider on Tuesday morning, Crystal Palace have set a £70m asking price for the 24-year-old, especially after losing Michael Olise to Bayern Munich. The report indicates that Liverpool are not prepared to pay that amount for the England centre-back.
Given that Leny Yoro can command a nearly £60m fee after just a season and a half of senior football, it’s not surprising that Guehi, with his experience, is valued at £70m.
The Crystal Palace defender is just two games away from his 100th Premier League appearance and has impressed for his country at the European Championship, with his recent performances in Germany likely contributing to his increased valuation.
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness recently noted that the 24-year-old would be a ‘perfect fit’ for Liverpool. Additionally, his former England under-21 teammate, Josef Bursik, described him as ‘an absolute tank’ and ‘like having a brick wall in front of you’ from a goalkeeper’s perspective.
Guehi seems like an ideal candidate for Arne Slot’s squad, but historically, Michael Edwards has been cautious about paying what he considers excessive fees. If Edwards deems £70m too high for the 24-year-old, it’s unlikely that Guehi will join Liverpool anytime soon.
It would be unfortunate if this were the primary reason for Liverpool abandoning their interest, but given the current market dynamics and FSG’s tendency to avoid inflated transfer fees, it’s a possibility.
