Marc Guehi’s much-anticipated £35million move from Crystal Palace to Liverpool collapsed in the final few hours of transfer deadline day.
Having been linked with Anfield all summer, Palace finally accepted Liverpool’s bid for the England centre-back on the final day of the transfer window.
Guehi was into the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and while he has continued to play for and captain the Eagles brilliantly, he had no intention of signing a new deal.
Despite protests from manager Oliver Glasner, Palace chairman Steve Parish decided he had no choice but to cash-in on the 25-year-old rather than lose him for nothing next summer.
But the transfer was contingent on the Eagles signing an experienced replacement and they appeared to have done so after agreeing to loan in Igor Julio from arch-rivals Brighton.
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With Igor arriving in south London, Guehi was granted permission to undergo his medical with Liverpool, who have also signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a Premier League record £130m.
However, as the medical was taking place, Igor decided against the transfer and instead sought a move to West Ham, with some reports suggesting he was concerned about the amount of game time he would get under Glasner.
Meanwhile, The Guardian claim that Palace called the transfer off due to an issue that emerged in the Brazilian’s medical.
Palace scrambled to find another centre-back option that could fill Guehi’s huge boots, with AC Milan’s Strahinja Pavlovic the top target.
Jaydee Canvot was signed from Toulouse for just over £20m but the teenager defender is viewed as a long-term addition not a direct replacement for Guehi.
A deal sheet was submitted ahead of the 7pm deadline on Monday for Guehi’s transfer with the player completing the medical, but the final decision fell to Palace.
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