Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish offers hint on Marc Guehi's future - with European clubs 'eyeing up deal' as January deadline looms

Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish has hinted that captain Marc Guehi is unlikely to leave the club in January despite interest from Liverpool .

The 25-year-old defender completed a medical with the Reds after a £35 million fee was agreed and a five-year contract prepared, with a deal sheet submitted to the Premier League before the deadline.

But the move collapsed after Palace failed to secure a replacement in time, prompting the club to block the transfer.

Parish, who said the club wanted to avoid 'breaking down the fabric of the team', appears determined to keep hold of his captain this season, despite acknowledging that Guehi will leave south London next summer when his contract expires.

'We needed to keep Marc because the difference between us having a stellar season and having a relegation-threatened season is us winning five games or not,' Parish told Men in Blazers.

'So the margins in the Premier League are very tight and you have to remember that Michael (Olise) has gone, we’re OK, Ebbs ( Eberechi Eze ) has gone, we’re OK, Wilfred (Zaha) went, we’re OK. There’s a limit to how much you can keep doing that before you break down the fabric of the team.'

Parish appears determined to keep hold of his captain this season, despite acknowledging that Guehi will leave south London in the summer of 2026 - when his contract expires

Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish has hinted that captain Marc Guehi is unlikely to leave the club in January despite interest from league champions Liverpool

With reported interest coming in from all over Europe, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, this situation could potentially be a blow for Liverpool given Guehi will be allowed to talk to international clubs from January 1.

Guehi's attitude following the collapse of the move to Liverpool was praised by his manager Oliver Glasner at the time, and was reiterated by Parish.

'It was a very marginal call,' Parish said. 'Marc was great about it as a person. Liverpool made the offer. It was a massive club, he was obviously interested in going. But he was fine about it, staying, if that was the decision we made.

'Obviously it means all of the ball is in his court tremendously as a player and he’s got the choice of wherever he wants to go. It was a very difficult one but I think definitely the right one.'

The England international joined Palace from Chelsea in 2021 and has since become one of the Premier League's most consistent performers, featuring for Gareth Southgate's side at Euro 2024.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner made clear in the final few days of the summer transfer window  that he did not want to lose Guehi to Liverpool without a replacement lined up

Palace boss Oliver Glasner made clear in the final few days of the summer transfer window that he did not want to lose Guehi without a replacement lined up, stressing the defender was 'necessary' to the club's hopes of enjoying a successful season.

Guehi, who has 26 England caps, featured in Palace's 2-0 win over Brentford on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles have 16 points from their opening 10 games of the season.

They also knocked out Arne Slot's side from the League cup on Wednesday, with a brace from Ismaila Sarr and Yeremy Pino sealing a 3-0 victory over the Reds.