Marc Guehi has decided he wants Premier League leaders Liverpool to be his next career step and is reportedly happy to wait to seal the deal.
The England international joined Crystal Palace from Chelsea in 2021 following two loan spells at Swansea and has been a hit in south London, playing 133 times.
He starred for the Three Lions at Euro 2024 this summer, in place of stalwart Harry Maguire, starting all but one match and featuring in various team of the tournament lists.
This season he has captained a struggling Palace side, playing 22 games in all competitions and remaining one of the stand-out performers for Oliver Glasner‘s men.
Guehi, who is the son of a church minister, also landed himself in hot water with the FA this month after he scrawled messages on LGBT rainbow armbands in protests against the campaign.
The 24-year-old remains an in-demand asset and is thought to have decided exactly where he wants to head next after his spell at Selhurst Park comes to an end, The Sun reports.
Marc Guehi wants to move to Liverpool when he eventually leaves Crystal Palace
The club captain has had another fine campaign and now wants Champions League football
Arne Slot’s men have been on fire this season surging into a commanding lead at the top
Guehi is believed to have a significant say in his upcoming career move and is willing to be patient and wait for the right time to move to Liverpool.
Whether his departure happens during the January transfer window or in the summer, the centre-back wants to head to a Champions League club.
Indeed, when Newcastle made three bids in the summer, Guehi remained apathetic towards a move and happy to stay at Crystal Palace after the club rejected all advances for their star.
The Eagles will be hopeful of receiving a large transfer fee for the Englishman, although the figure is likely to dwindle as he nears the end of his contract, which expires in June 2026.
The Croydon-based side are also keen on getting a player to come the other way, with club chiefs particularly interested in winger Ben Doak, who has been on loan at Championship outfit Middlesborough from the Reds this campaign.
The 19-year-old has played 18 matches for the promotion-pushing team this season and has ambitions to break into the Liverpool squad, but understands he might have to settle for a move elsewhere should this fail to materialise.
Middlesborough are potential suitors but Palace will push for him if their efforts to land Lyon star Rayan Cherki, 21, fall through next month amid interest in the French winger from Paris Saint-Germain.
After the the summer transfer window slammed shut, Glasner said: I was never in doubt [that Guehi would stay].
Guehi also broke into the England team in the summer and put in assured displays at Euro 2024
Palace might want Ben Doak in return after his fine performances on loan at Middlesborough
Their main target is Lyon winger Rayan Cherki but they might get outmuscled by PSG
‘Congratulations to our owners because they didn’t give in. Thank you to Marc, he was always open with me.
‘All the rumours didn’t influence his performances. He always told me that he’s not pushing to leave Crystal Palace and that is always the most important thing for me.’
Guehi has had a tumultous month amid controversy over his armband protest and the centre-back broke his silence on the issue shortly after he was reprimanded by the FA.
As part of the Premier League‘s Rainbow Laces campaign to support the LGBTQ+ community, top-flight captains were given rainbow armbands to wear for two sets of fixtures.
Guehi opted to scrawl the message ‘I love Jesus’ on his armband for Crystal Palace‘s 1-1 draw with Newcastle and, despite being reminded of kit regulations, chose to write a new message – ‘Jesus loves you’ – ahead of Palace’s 1-0 win at Ipswich.
The Eagles captain did not face punishment for doubling down on his stance, and later revealed the intended meaning behind his two messages.
‘I think the message was pretty clear to be honest,’ Guehi told Sky Sports. ‘It was a message of love and truth as well, and a message of inclusivity so I think it speaks for itself.’
Guehi was not the only Premier League captain to cause controversy over the past two games, as Ipswich skipper Sam Morsy refused to wear the armband at all due to his Muslim beliefs. He was backed by his club and not reprimanded by the FA, leading to Guehi’s father, John, accusing the FA of double standards.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe wanted Marc Guehi in the summer and bid three times for him
Guehi wrote ‘I love Jesus’ on his rainbow armband for Crystal Palace’s draw with Newcastle
He then wrote ‘Jesus loves you’ for Palace’s 1-0 win at Ipswich on Tuesday night
His father John (left )accused the FA of double standards for reprimanding his son and not Ipswich skipper Sam Morsy
John exclusively told MailOnline on Tuesday: ‘I am saying did he offend anyone? I don’t think so. I do believe in what the Bible says, Jesus loves everyone, and, in my opinion, Marc did not offend anyone with what he wrote.
‘Jesus loved everyone therefore by saying “I love Jesus” on his armband I really don’t see what is offensive and what the problem is.
‘If you look at what the LGBT community are doing, they are trying to impose on others what they believe in, it’s belief against belief, but at the end of the day everyone has the right to an opinion.
‘But if that opinion’s aim is to offend you then there is a problem but if my opinion is just to express what I feel then I think that is fine and I don’t think what Marc wrote on that armband is offensive.
‘He is talking about him, he loves Jesus and like I said he didn’t refuse to wear that armband, like Morsy, people should pay more attention to the person who refused to wear it.’
‘He is a devout Christian; the son of a church minister and he accepted to put the arm band on to welcome everyone in football but the problem we have now is that players are being used as spokespeople now.’
