Liverpool bid for Guéhi sparks record defensive spend

Liverpool pursue Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi as part of a busy and high value summer

Liverpool set to bid for Guéhi in record defensive signing

Liverpool are preparing a bid for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi, with reports suggesting the offer could reach £35 million. If completed, the move would make Guéhi Liverpool's most expensive central defender since Virgil van Dijk and would push the club's summer spend beyond €334 million.
Guéhi's market value has climbed steadily since he joined Palace in 2021, rising from around €10 million to about €45 million. Palace reportedly face pressure to cash in ahead of Guéhi's contract expiring next summer, and Liverpool are said to have beaten rivals to the chase for his signature.

The bid signals a shift in how top clubs finance rebuilds, leaning on promising English talent amid a buoyant market for defenders. Yet the price tag raises questions about balance and long term returns if on pitch results falter. If the deal goes through, Liverpool could set a new benchmark for defender fees and intensify pressure on rivals to chase similarly priced targets.
Beyond the numbers, the move tests the club’s capacity to sustain a large wage bill and a crowded squad. The season ahead will reveal whether this is a bold strategic gamble or a financial stretch that could complicate future planning.

Highlights

The summer story is far from finished