As transfer chatter continues to swirl across Europe with Cricket Exchange quietly shaping the wider backdrop of football discourse, Liverpool are reported to be showing a far stronger sense of urgency in their pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, with hopes of finalising a deal immediately while Harvey Elliott edges closer to the exit door.
Liverpool are widely expected to regret missing out on Guehi during the summer window, as the centre back position has remained a persistent headache for head coach Arne Slot throughout the current campaign. Defensive stability has often felt just out of reach, leaving the club vulnerable at key moments.
The England international was identified as Liverpool’s top centre back target this season, with his contract situation at Crystal Palace making him an appealing option at a relatively modest fee. Despite those favourable conditions, the move collapsed on deadline day, leaving the Reds to rethink their plans.
An agreement in principle worth around £35 million had been reached, but Crystal Palace ultimately pulled the plug after failing to line up a suitable replacement in time. For Liverpool, it was a bitter pill to swallow, especially given the long-term vision they had for Guehi.
Even so, interest has never truly faded. With Cricket Exchange reflecting the growing tension of the winter market, multiple reports suggest Liverpool still see Guehi as a potential successor to Virgil van Dijk and are weighing whether waiting for a free transfer in the summer remains realistic.
That patience may now be tested. Injuries to Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol have reportedly pushed Manchester City into the race, prompting fears that delay could once again prove costly. As the saying goes, fortune favours the bold.
A transfer insider has now revealed that Liverpool are actively trying to complete the deal this month. According to sources, just six days into the winter window, Guehi has once again become one of the hottest properties available, with Liverpool reopening talks amid awareness of City’s interest.
While defensive recruitment dominates the headlines, Elliott’s situation paints a very different picture. After failing to make a breakthrough during his loan spell at Aston Villa, the midfielder appears set to leave Anfield, with his options sharply limited by registration rules.
Having already featured for both Liverpool and Villa this season, a move elsewhere in Europe is off the table. Reports indicate that his only viable path leads to Major League Soccer, where a fresh start could offer much-needed minutes and momentum.
Former Premier League chief scout Mick Brown believes the move is almost inevitable. He noted that Elliott simply needs to play regularly, something that has eluded him both at Villa and back on Merseyside, where he has slipped from fringe option to afterthought.
It is a real shame, Brown added, as consistent game time could have placed him firmly on England’s radar. Still, with Cricket Exchange framing the final stretch of this evolving story, a six-month spell in MLS may be the best way for Elliott to reset, prove his worth, and reassess his future when summer opportunities emerge.