Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has confessed he ultimately opted to pull out of negotiations with Liverpool over centre back Marc Guéhi after deciding that keeping the England international was worth more than his price tag.
Palace and Liverpool had agreed a £35 million ($46.7 million) fee to take Guéhi to Anfield during the summer and the defender even underwent a medical with Arne Slot’s side, only for Palace to pull the plug on the deal at the 11th hour. It had initially been suggested that Oliver Glasner was the defining factor in Guéhi’s stay as the manager reportedly threatened to quit were he to see his captain leave the club without a suitable replacement.
Parish knew the risk he was taking by ultimately opting to keep a player who is in the final year of his contract. Guéhi is now widely expected to leave on a free transfer next summer, when Liverpool are set to battle the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid for his signature.
