Exclusive with Graeme Bailey.
Liverpool do not hold an advantage in the race to sign Marc Guehi in 2026, despite having an agreement in place in September, Rousing The Kop understands.
The Reds almost signed Guehi on transfer deadline day, with a contract agreed for the Crystal Palace captain.
After Palace pulled the plug at the last moment, some have suggested that Liverpool are clear front-runners to bring him in on a free transfer.
However, while Liverpool are firmly in the race for Guehi, RTK have been told that they are by no means favourites at this stage.
Instead, sources have described the situation as a ‘slate being wiped clean’ for the centre-back, who will have numerous options within the Premier League and across Europe.
While this does not mean Guehi will absolutely not join Liverpool, the Reds are understood to be assessing other options, including Murillo of Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool must start again in Marc Guehi saga
Liverpool may still attempt to get ahead of the chasing pack and sign Guehi in January, however, the player himself is understood to be keen on assessing his options next summer.
As transfer expert Graeme Bailey exclusively tells RTK, this will at best mean Liverpool having to renegotiate the contract they agreed with Guehi last month, and at worst will mean he goes elsewhere.
“It was confirmed to me that the slate was wiped clean for Guehi,” Bailey says. “When he didn’t move in January it was a case of ‘back to your starting blocks. It starts now.’ Liverpool don’t have an advantage necessarily.
“That doesn’t mean they won’t get him. They might also look to do it in January, but he’s expecting to move on a free and Palace think he will as well. If anyone tries in January it’ll most likely be Liverpool.
“I suspect the contract they agreed in the summer will be somewhat less than he’ll be getting on his next deal, that’s part of the reason they wanted to do it in the summer. I wouldn’t say it’s pointing towards Liverpool missing out just yet, but I do wonder if he looks abroad.”
Asked about Liverpool’s interest in Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano, Bailey says that while the Reds are keeping abreast of the Frenchman’s situation, sources feel he is more likely to stay put as things stand. The journalist also suggests Murillo could come into play.
“Upamecano, there’s still a belief from German sources that he’ll probably sign a new deal there, but you never know,” Bailey says. “Liverpool are assessing the centre-half market, there’s loads of them out there. Murillo’s a fascinating one, let’s see what happens around Forest. He’s someone we know Liverpool like.”
How likely is a January deal for Liverpool?
Given the long-term injury sustained by Giovanni Leoni, and the current poor form of Ibrahima Konate, many Liverpool supporters would like to see a centre-back brought in as soon as possible.
And according to Bailey, there is a chance the Reds enter the market in the New Year if the right opportunity arises.
“January is obviously very hard to do anything, but they’re assessing the market,” he says. “I do think we’ll see them do two centre-halves in 2026. I think they would like to do one in January, but they won’t do it for the sake of it. If they could get a Guehi or an Ordonez though they likely will try.
“Murillo is a likely mover in 2026, but let’s see. There could be another new manager at Forest and he could love it.”
Liverpool’s chances of signing Guehi are not as strong as they once looked, but that only opens the door for someone else to walk through.
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