Liverpool

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The last-minute collapse of Marc Guehi's transfer to Liverpool is a story rooted in brinksmanship.

A game of poker - but who won? That is down to opinion.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is arguably the saga's biggest winner. The Austrian got what he wanted all along - to keep his captain despite the financial ramifications on the club, who have now lost a £35m cash injection with Guehi set to leave for nothing next summer.

Amid the transfer drama, Guehi was getting on with his pre-season. The start of his summer was hampered by a slight hamstring complaint that required a scan and careful managing during their summer training camp.

But Guehi knew machinations were evolving in private and so did Glasner, whose messaging to Guehi had been consistent throughout the summer.

The Palace boss wanted him to stay. His stance was understandable - Guehi was his skipper and a key player in his team.

Glasner's contract also expires next summer and the manager wanted them to ride the wave of uncertainty together.

At the time, Guehi did not have a decision to make. Liverpool had not made a bid, but he knew it was coming and was clear with his messaging to Glasner that, if the Reds did formalise their interest, it was something he would like to consider.

But Guehi did not agitate - it is not his style. He is the captain of the club and he has never taken that responsibility lightly. Equally, Guehi did not need to force the issue - he was in the final 12 months of his deal.

It is likely the option of joining Liverpool next season will still be available to him, the fact he would be on a free transfer means he would earn significantly more.

Palace tried to offset the issue by offering Guehi a new contract, but the defender declined the offer.

By this point, it was one a club market. Tottenham, BBC Sport understands, tested the water to see if Guehi was open to joining for Thomas Frank's first season in charge.

That was Palace's only genuine hope of starting an auction, but Guehi's intentions were clear: it was Liverpool or a free transfer next summer.

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Aside from missing out on Marc Guehi, Liverpool have clearly had an exceptional transfer window.

It is rare for a title winning squad to be overhauled so much, but for Arne Slot, there's no standing still. Great players may have departed, but Liverpool now look like they have the firepower to challenge for everything both at home and in Europe.

On paper, it looks a formidable squad.

The challenge for Slot will be to fit them all in – he will have to rotate - and then there's the likes of Conor Bradley and Curtis Jones, great players who will want to challenge for a regular place.

But with a lengthy Champions League schedule now ahead of them, plus the Carabao and FA Cups and a gruelling domestic league campaign to negotiate, Liverpool have to have options, and many of Slot's options are world class.

That is the key. Liverpool will want to build on last season's success.

There will be a hunger to make it happen every year.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has criticised a fan account that posted a graphic of summer sales Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez alongside new signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak with the caption: "Name a bigger upgrade in footballing history."

The Reds have been the Premier League's biggest spenders this summer, shelling out £415m on new recruits, including twice breaking the British transfer record - first the £116m deal for Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, then the £125m purchase of Isak from Newcastle on deadline day.

However, the champions have also recouped about £210m by selling several players, with Diaz making a £65.5m move to Bayern Munich and Nunez joining Al-Hilal in a deal worth £46.3m.

During 2024-25, Diaz scored 13 goals and provided five assists, while Nunez scored five goals and provided two assists, as Liverpool comfortably won the Premier League - a 20th top-flight title - by 10 points.

Salah responded to the post on X by writing: "How about we celebrate the great signings without disrespecting the PL champions?"

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher replied to Salah's post with a red love heart emoji, seemingly showing support for the Egyptian's view.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool fan Iain Christie says missing out on signing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi on deadline day was "disappointing" because he "has the skillset we need".

"I thought Guehi was in the bag and done," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"Guehi is a player we needed because he has the skillset we need. He carries the ball well and he's a leader. He's not magnificent in the air because he's not that tall but if he's alongside someone like a Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate then there is potential to mask his weakness.

"To have it taken away on the final day is disappointing. Where we are at the back now means we need to rely on Joe Gomez to stay fit, which is never a position you want to be in.

"Gomez is a phenomenal footballer who almost every season has missed three or four months at a time. The hope is he stays fit until Christmas and we don't even notice we don't have Guehi.

"That is the upside. The downside is if Konate and Gomez pick up a knock, we are left with Van Dijk and an 18-year-old.

"Not signing Guehi is really good news for Leoni because he now has a chance to come in and play. If he can play alongside Van Dijk then he will instantly look about 10 times the player he is - because Van Dijk makes everyone look better.

"It just leaves us a little bit threadbare and I think we all still have PTSD from the season we lost Joel Matip, Van Dijk and Gomez and were left with Jordan Henderson and Nat Phillips playing centre-half.

"I think the club thought it was in the bag otherwise there would have been a plan B."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool fan Neil Atkinson from The Anfield Wrap says he has no concerns over Alexander Isak's behaviour following the striker's record-breaking move from Newcastle.

Isak separated himself from Newcastle during pre-season and stated he had been given certain assurances about the path of his future - a claim his former club denied.

He ultimately got his desired move to Liverpool, while Newcastle recruited Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Atkinson said: "In the end Newcastle have done all right, but they could have made a few of these moves in June, had them for pre-season and their new front line-up could have played against Liverpool.

"Where Newcastle have ended up is actually a pretty decent place. There's a few clubs that have got to look back on this window and reflect about whether or not they've dealt with the long-term planning.

"From Isak's point of view, it sounds like he and his agent repeatedly made it clear he wanted to leave this summer but Newcastle refused to listen.

"More players should put in transfer requests. They should all have release clauses put in. It's madness that they don't.

"I don't think there should be these six, seven, eight-year-deals - it should be outlawed.

"All Isak could have done is repeatedly tell the club 'I want to go' and he's done that. Ultimately, Newcastle have got £125m for him.

"Eddie Howe has carried himself brilliantly through the whole process. I don't think anyone's acted dishonourably."

Had Liverpool offered £55m for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi then the Eagles would have progressed with the transfer and the Reds may now face competition from Real Madrid to sign him on a free transfer. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Guehi is extremely unhappy with Crystal Palace for denying him a £35m transfer to Anfield, which came after manager Oliver Glasner threatened to resign if the 25-year-old England defender was sold. (Guardian), external

Guehi, in the final year of his Selhurst Park contract, will reject any offer of a new deal as he plans to leave as a free agent next summer. (Times - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Alexander Isak has his desired move to Liverpool, but can he adapt to playing with Mohamed Salah?

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discussed how Isak fits into the Red's attacking unit as they aim to defend their Premier League title.

Former Premier League goalkeeper Joe Hart said: "They have got the people who run the game and they have to figure out how he gels with them.

"It is really hard to say if Liverpool change tactically with Isak. We don't know if Newcastle utilised all of Isak's talents - he might have other ways of playing that didn't suit Eddie Howe's style that might work with Liverpool.

"It probably won't be instant, but ultimately the fans will get behind him. It would take a particular person to just walk in like nothing has happened so it will weigh on him a bit, but ultimately he finally has that Liverpool jersey on.

"Liverpool fans will be behind him and he probably just needs to score those first few goals for everyone so everyone will leave him alone and he can go about his business."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Harvey Elliott left a heartfelt message to Liverpool and their supporters on social media following his move to Aston Villa on transfer deadline day, after spending six years with the club he supported.

In the statement, he said: "When I joined Liverpool in 2019 it was a dream come true for me and my family. As a young child, I travelled the world supporting the team as a fan and words will never be able to explain the feeling I had when I pulled on that famous red shirt for the first time as a player.

"Over the course of the last six years I've experienced so much and grown from a young 16-year-old boy into a man during my time at the club. Growing up, I could never have imagined that I'd go on to play 150 games for my boyhood team, winning seven major trophies and culminating in being part of the squad to have won the Premier League last season with such a special group.

"Thank you to everybody at the club for welcoming me from the very first day I arrived, and for looking after me ever since.

"Thank you to the board and Jurgen Klopp for helping me live my dream of becoming a Liverpool player. To Arne Slot, all of the coaches and staff who have helped me along the way and, of course, my team-mates - it's been a privilege to play with you all and I feel lucky to have made so many lifelong friends.

"To the incredible Liverpool fans. Thank you for making me one of your own and for always supporting me through both good and tough times. I'll always cherish the bond we have together. I will always have Liverpool in my heart.

"It's now time for a new challenge. I am incredibly ambitious and feel that at this stage of my career, it's important to be in an environment where I'm able to have the opportunity to play and progress as much as possible.

"Thank you all for everything. See you soon! YNWA"

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool fan Neil Atkinson from The Anfield Wrap believes the Reds have had a "good" but not "great" window.

"It's been a good transfer window but Liverpool are still without a forward," Atkinson told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"We understand that there are tragic reasons behind that but I do have my concerns that they are understocked.

"Last season, Liverpool had five starting forwards, this season they've got four. They may have a plan to deal with that, they may have an overall idea. But part of why Liverpool won the Premier League last year was because they were constantly able to rotate in terms of the bench and bring on Diogo Jota or Darwin Nunez or Luis Diaz.

"This year they are just a little tighter. This window has been good from Liverpool's point of view, but I don't think it's necessarily been great."

Atkinson however believes Liverpool's major win in the summer window has been building the squad for future years.

"In terms of long-term planning, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz are all phenomenal players," he added.

"They're part of the process of being able to play now and being long-term replacements for Mohamed Salah. He's had an exceptional contribution to Liverpool but we know the clock is ticking.

"At the end of September, Liverpool go away to Crystal Palace and then Galatasaray and then Chelsea. To do that sort of thing you want to be able to rotate both during games and from game-to-game.

"Liverpool want to win the Premier League and the Champions League, that's the aim this season. By March last season, the team looked exhausted.

"It is a little bit of a risk from Liverpool's point of view but in terms of sheer talent, they've recruited brilliantly."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the impact of Marc Guehi's failed transfer to Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Siti: I'm not too disappointed. It's a delay, not a rejection. I'm positive Marc Guehi will join us in January. In the meantime, we have the superb Dominik Szoboszlai to plug any gaps across the backline. He's our new James Milner.

David: It means that Marc can join Liverpool for free next summer and the Reds have saved £35m Crystal Palace could have made. Simples.

Mark: The Guehi collapse isn't the end of the world. If Joe Gomez can stay fit, he's a top centre-half. And looking forward to seeing Leoni get some game time as a result of not getting Guehi.

Liam: It's a shame the Guehi deal fell through but I'm sure he will be a Liverpool player - if not in January then next summer. Palace have had all summer to find his replacement but left it until the last minute and when that fell through, Glasner reportedly played his hand and threatened to walk. The ironic thing is that he is now being linked to the Bayer Leverkusen job.

Rae: Signing Guehi would have been the cherry on top for LFC. The signings have all been excellent, mostly outstanding. There is a lingering doubt, though, that the squad really does need another quality centre-back.

Rick: Deeply disappointed this transfer didn't go through because of Palace's inability to bring in a replacement. They had all summer to prepare for that. At least now we have a good chance to get him for even less money in the winter transfer window. Fully put the blame on Palace for this failed transfer.

Bill: Been worried about this possibility for weeks - shouldn't have happened, deal should have been done early. Only have ourselves to blame. But must complete the job in January.

Stuart: It's more important for LFC to sign an accomplished central defender than a number nine. As was seen last year, the side was leaking in goals, Van Dijk is not getting any younger and Konate was not pulling his weight.

• Sign up for news alerts on your Premier League team

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's 2025 summer transfer window will go down in history.

No club has ever spent more - although in fairness to the Reds, the net spend was actually less than Arsenal's because of heavy departures, too.

Alexander Isak, completed on deadline day, will get the headlines. While some fans are worried by the manner in which he downed tools at St James' Park, I am not.

Look at Marc Guehi. He behaved professionally all summer and as a result was denied a dream Anfield move at the final minute. Isak had to put Newcastle in a position where they had no other choice but to sell.

Worrying about whether he will do the same to Liverpool is silly. If Real Madrid want him in three years, it means he will have scored tonnes of goals and we will have won lots. Then we recoup the British record fee anyway.

Missing out on Guehi is problematic, though.

Ibou Konate is out of contract next summer and has started the season poorly overall. He was better against Arsenal on Sunday, but left the field injured.

Virgil van Dijk is ludicrously good, but nobody can replace him if he is injured, and new signing Gio Leoni should not be expected to at 18.

So, an injury to Van Dijk would cause big issues. But I think Liverpool will go back in for Guehi in January at a reduced price.

The full-back signings are good, but the real gem is Florian Wirtz.

I truly believe he will become the best player in the Premier League. He has only shown glimpses so far, but the talent is mesmerising and obvious.

A 9.5/10 transfer window - very nearly a 10 if we had got Guehi over the line.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

Liverpool refused to allow Joe Gomez to join AC Milan after their bid to sign fellow England defender Marc Guehi, 25, from Crystal Palace fell through. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Guehi's exit video from Crystal Palace was leaked on social media but he remains content to see out the remaining year of his contract at Selhurst Park and then leave on a free transfer next summer. (Talksport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Just a few shots to whet your appetite for Liverpool's new number nine.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa have completed the loan signing of Harvey Elliott from Liverpool.

The 22-year-old will join on an initial season-long loan, with an obligation to buy for £35m included in the deal.

Elliott has played just once for Liverpool this season, making a brief appearance from the bench in their Premier League game against Newcastle.

In June, he said he does not want to be "wasting years" in his career and would consider his future with the Reds.

He was limited to 18 Premier League appearances as Liverpool won the title last season, 16 of them as a substitute.

In comparison, he made 53 appearances in all competitions, including 27 starts, in the 2023-24 campaign when he scored four goals and provided 11 assists.

Image source, Getty Images

New Liverpool striker Alexander Isak says he wants to "win everything" after completing his record transfer from Newcastle.

The long-running summer transfer saga finally came to an end on Monday with the 25-year-old completing his medical after the £125m deal was agreed.

The Reds had an original £110m offer for Isak rejected in August but have now landed their first-choice target of the summer.

Sweden international Isak had not featured for the Magpies this season as speculation over his future mounted.

"I feel amazing," Isak told club media. "It's been a long journey to get here. But I'm super happy to be a part of this team, this club and everything it stands for. It's something I'm proud of and I'm really looking forward to it.

"I'm just happy it's done and that I can get back to work. I'm looking forward to seeing my team-mates and the fans, and getting back out there.

"I think I have a lot to give - I think I have a lot to improve. I'm a striker but I always want to give as much as possible to the team, mainly goals, but much more than that as well.

"I want to win everything."