Liverpool have reportedly been informed that a proposed player-swap deal with one of their Premier League rivals might not be feasible.
The Reds are continuing to shape their summer plans after what has already been a hugely productive start to the transfer window.
Having smashed their transfer record to secure the signing of Florian Wirtz, Liverpool have underlined their ambition to build on last season’s success. The club have also strengthened their defensive flanks by bringing in Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
Despite these reinforcements, Liverpool are still actively searching for a new central defender. Although Virgil van Dijk is expected to stay put, the futures of Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez remain uncertain.
Liverpool Want to Sign Marc Guehi
Marc Guehi has been a long-standing target for Liverpool, who are in the market for a reliable centre-back to partner Virgil van Dijk. With growing speculation that Ibrahima Konate could be sold, the Reds may soon need to act.
Konate has entered the final year of his contract, and negotiations over an extension appear to have stalled. To avoid the risk of losing him on a free transfer next summer, Liverpool might be compelled to sell him now.
This situation creates an opening for new defensive reinforcements, particularly after Jarell Quansah’s switch to Bayer Leverkusen and suggestions that Joe Gomez might also be on his way out.
Guehi, like Konate, is out of contract in 2026, and this could allow Liverpool to negotiate a lower transfer fee. A swap deal involving players has been floated by former Reds scout Mick Brown, though he has downplayed the chances of such an arrangement materialising.
Liverpool and Crystal Palace Swap Deal Ruled Out
Brown, formerly Manchester United’s chief scout, pointed out that Crystal Palace’s interest in Ben Doak could inspire thoughts of a potential player-swap deal.
However, with past reports suggesting Palace valued Guehi at around £80 million, they might view such an arrangement as short-changing them on a more lucrative sale.
“I’m sure a swap is something Liverpool would like to do. They want to sign Guehi and Palace are interested in Doak, so on the face of it, it might make sense for the two players to switch clubs,” Brown told Football Insider.
“It won’t be as easy as that, though, because the value isn’t there for Palace. Liverpool want £30 million if they’re going to sell Doak, so they could say to Palace ‘we’ll give you £30 million plus Doak’ and value that as a £60 million deal.
“But from a Palace point of view, if they don’t think he’s worth £30 million, the deal doesn’t make sense.
“Palace don’t want to come out of that deal on the losing side. They would rather take £50 million up front because then it’s money in the bank. They can go out and sign somebody like Doak or another attacking target with that money.
“I think they’ve got the stronger hand because ultimately it’s Liverpool who want Guehi, so Palace can demand whatever they want for him.”
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