Arne Slot speaks out on Marc Guehi transfer after Liverpool disappointment

Slot

Arne Shot refused to be drawn on whether Liverpool will revisit their interest in Marc Guehi in January as he shared his disappointment at missing out on the England international on transfer deadline day.

The Reds had agreed a £35m deal with Crystal Palace, with the defender even starting to undergo a medical, only for the Eagles to pull the plug on the switch after failing to sign a replacement.

The 25-year-old remains out of contract at the end of the season, with Liverpool retaining interest in his services.

But while he could be available for a cut-price fee in January, the Reds are at present unlikely to move for Guehi in the New Year given the player will be available on a free next summer.

Speaking to the media for the first time since transfer deadline day, Slot admitted it was ‘a pity’ for both Liverpool and Guehi that the transfer fell through.

However, the Dutchman insisted his side will not be left short at centre-back despite missing out on the Crystal Palace captain.

Slot

“Nah, I think it would be ridiculous if I’m going to deny we were close to signing him,”

“That is so out in the open that that would be ridiculous.

“These things happen in football, it happened to our players maybe in the past as well that they thought they were so close to signing somewhere else and then in the last moment, things change. This can happen.

“For me, we would like to sign him of course, because we were in for him.

“Like I have said many times, if we feel we can strengthen the team with a chance in the market, we never hesitated to do so and that’s what we tried to do.

“But we played one or two days before, we played Arsenal where Virgil and Ibou played an outstanding game and Joe came in 20 minutes before the end and did outstanding as well.

“With us signing Giovanni Leoni, who had his first international call-up, and Ryan (Gravenberch) and Wata (Endo) that can play there so it is not like all of a sudden we don’t have options in that position anymore.

“It’s a pity but not only for us, but also for the player I think.

“But he’s in a good place, playing at Palace where he won the Community Shield and the FA Cup with a very good manager as well.

“Let’s see what the future brings for him and for us. If I am thinking anything (about the January transfer window), you know that what I think, I don’t tell you.

“The thing I think most about is Burnley at the moment, I can assure you.”

In the immediate aftermath of Guehi’s move to Liverpool falling through, it was not lost on onlookers how he had continued to play and train for Crystal Palace only to be denied the move while Alexander Isak essentially went on strike at Newcastle United to force through his own switch to Anfield.

But Slot refused to compare the situations as he reiterated his delight at bringing Isak to the club.

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“I don’t think you can compare any situation with another,” he said. “Different ownership, different situation. I think you cannot compare these.

“I’m really happy that Alex signed for us because I did feel, all the way, that we needed an attacking player extra.

“So happy that we could bring in the one we wanted from the start.”

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