Marc Guehi: Arne Slot Drops Fresh Liverpool Transfer Hint

A Deadline Day move to Anfield fell apart at the 11th hour

Marc Guéhi is in the final year of his contract. / Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images

Arne Slot has hinted at a future move from Liverpool to try and sign Crystal Palace centre back Marc Guéhi, who saw a Deadline Day transfer to Anfield collapse.

Liverpool had agreed a fee of £35 million ($47.5 million) for Guéhi, who is in the final year of his contract and has refused to sign an extension. The Eagles captain travelled for a medical but Palace withdrew from the deal in the final hours of the window after failing to find a suitable replacement.

Reports have since suggested Liverpool will not try to sign Guéhi again in January, instead preferring to wait until next summer to try land the 25-year-old on a free transfer.

Reflecting on the chaotic saga, Slot told his press conference ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Burnley: “I think it would be ridiculous if I will deny we were close, it was so out in the open, these things happen in football. It’s happened to our players before, it can happen.

“We would like to sign him, of course, because we were in for him. If we feel we can strengthen then we try to.

Guéhi is ready to take the next step in his career.

“We played Ibou [Konaté] and Virgil [van Dijk], who were outstanding, vs. Arsenal, and [Joe] Gomez as well and we signed [Giovanni] Leoni, who had a call-up [to Italy]. We have Wataru [Endo] and Ryan [Gravenberch] as well, so it’s not that we don’t have the players.

“It’s a pity for [Guéhi], but he is at a good club. Let’s see what the future brings for us.”

Quizzed on whether Liverpool would be more likely to move for Guéhi in January or at the end of the season, Slot simply responded: “I don’t tell you, but I am thinking of Burnley.”

Guéhi is believed to been on a move to Liverpool but rules around free transfers put the Reds at a slight disadvantage as they, alongside every other English side, are unable to speak with the defender about a free transfer in January.

European suitors—Real Madrid and Barcelona have both been named—can make direct contact with Guéhi at the turn of the year and could agree a contract with the England international before Liverpool are even permitted to reach out.

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Report: Real Madrid Handed Ibrahima Konate Transfer Boost

Real Madrid’s interest in a different Premier League centre back has been rubbished.

Ibrahima Konaté is into the final year of his Liverpool contract. / Robbie Jay Barratt-AMA/Getty Images

Real Madrid reportedly believe that Ibrahima Konaté wants to join them as his contract stand off with Liverpool rumbles on.

The towering French defender is on course to become a free agent this summer. Konaté hasn’t yet publicly ruled out the prospect of signing a new deal on Merseyside while the prospect of joining the Spanish giants is something he has only been willing to joke about thus far.

However, those in Madrid are confident. The Athletic claim that the prevailing opinion from the Spanish capital is that Konaté is keen on moving to the Bernabéu.

The report also outlines that a move for the 26-year-old was not “a real option” this summer and raises the possibility that he could be “playing both sides,” keeping the door open to Real Madrid to ensure that Liverpool keep raising their contractual offers. Spurious talk of the club’s interest in Tottenham Hotspur centre back Micky van de Van was promtly dismissed.

Real Madrid are working on a deal for Konate

There is always the prospect that Liverpool soon lose patience with their contract hold-out. Konaté supposedly rejected a third approach over improved personal terms this week, per MARCA. Those on Merseyside seemingly consider his exit “to be a given” but this scenario is mired in uncertainty.

Konaté has certainly began the new season like a player operating under a cloud of confusion. The France international lacked all authority in the Community Shield and was hopelessly exposed on several occasions against Bournemouth on the opening night of the new Premier League campaign. Konaté did manage to successfully muzzle Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres, although the Swedish recruit hasn’t enjoyed a seamless start himself.

If Konaté were to leave, Liverpool already have a ready-made replacement lined up in the form of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi. Much like Real Madrid, the Reds are expected to wait until the summer window before snapping up the England international as a free agent.

There is also the young prospect Giovanni Leoni who moved to Merseyside over the summer.

Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Burnley: Ekitike to Start Over Isak

The Reds have a 100% winning record under their belt soon

Liverpool are on the hunt for a fourth straight victory. / PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images

Liverpool have made an encouraging start to the defence of their Premier League title and can clinch a fourth successive victory when they visit Burnley on Sunday afternoon.

Chaotic victories over Bournemouth and Newcastle United were followed by a more mature and disciplined display against Arsenal before the September international break. The Reds delivered an early blow to their title rivals as Dominik Szoboszlai’s exceptional free kick decided a tight affair.

Things should be simpler for Liverpool at Turf Moor this weekend, but Arne Slot can ill-afford complacency from his side against the newly-promoted Clarets. Victory is essential for the reigning champions.

Here is how Slot could line his team up in Lancashire.

Next: Grading Liverpool’s 2025 Summer Transfer Window

Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Burnley (4-2-3-1)



Dominik Szoboszlai could continue at right back. / George Wood/Getty Images

GK: Alisson—Liverpool will hope Alisson isn’t jet-lagged after featuring in both of Brazil’s matches over the international period. The 32-year-old will expect a relatively quiet afternoon anyway.

RB: Dominik Szoboszlai—Jeremie Frimpong could be available once again and Conor Bradley is also fully fit, but Szoboszlai’s excellent recent performances at right back have potentially earned him another start.

CB: Ibrahima Konaté—After shaky performances against Bournemouth and Newcastle, Konaté was much improved against Arsenal. He’s another potentially fatigued international returning to Merseyside having played twice for France in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying.

CB: Virgil van Dijk—Van Dijk remains integral to Liverpool’s defence functioning properly and the Dutchman should have too much power and experience for Burnley’s forwards on Sunday.

LB: Milos Kerkez—Much like Konaté, Kerkez shone against Arsenal following two disappointing displays. The Hungary international will be expected to provide plenty of attacking support at Turf Moor.

DM: Ryan Gravenberch—Gravenberch’s return from suspension has been crucial in wins over Newcastle and Arsenal, with the Dutchman fresh for the Burnley clash after being rested in the Netherlands’ narrow win over Lithuania.

DM: Alexis Mac Allister—Mac Allister is another making the lengthy trip back to Liverpool from South America, although he only featured once for Argentina.

AM: Florian Wirtz—Wirtz produced an outstanding free kick in Germany’s win over Northern Ireland and will be aiming to take confidence from his stunner back to Merseyside. He’s yet to meet expectations in a Liverpool shirt.

RW: Mohamed Salah—Following his extraordinary 2024–25 campaign, Salah’s performances have been more human at the beginning of the new term. He has a surprisingly poor record against Burnley, too, scoring just once in ten past meetings—that goal coming in his debut season with the Reds.

ST: Hugo Ekitiké—Liverpool fans will be eager to see Alexander Isak earn his first minutes in a red shirt on Sunday, but Slot has insisted that the Swede will be eased into the action. For now, Ekitiké will retain his starting berth.

LW: Cody Gakpo—Gakpo has flourished at the beginning of the season following Luis Díaz’s exit, scoring and assisting twice in the Premier League already. He will face an intense battle with ex-Manchester City right back Kyle Walker this weekend.