Liverpool have received a stark financial warning over their pursuit of defender Marc Guehi, with a potential free transfer next summer expected to come with colossal wage demands and a hefty signing-on bonus.
The High Price of a 'Free' Transfer
Despite being poised to join the Reds for £35 million on summer transfer deadline day, the deal for the Crystal Palace centre-back collapsed at the last minute. Guehi, 25, is now likely to see out the final six months of his contract at Selhurst Park, making him a free agent in the summer of 2026.
While this eliminates a transfer fee, former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has highlighted the significant costs that would simply be transferred to the player's personal terms. On his Fozcast podcast, Foster suggested Guehi could command wages of up to £300,000 per week alongside a signing-on fee as high as £30 million.
Foster's Warning on Wages and Fees
"Marc Guehi could go to anybody in the world," Foster stated. "If he lets his contract run down to the summer, he can sign for whoever he wants. At that point he gets to say, 'I want £250,000 a week' or 'I want £300,000,' because if he gets four, five or six teams sniffing at him and wanting him, he'll get it as well."
Foster emphasised the shifting financial dynamics of a free transfer, explaining: "With the signing on fee, you haven't got to pay £40m or £50m for a player like Marc Guehi. Instead of that, you can say, 'Give me a signing on fee of £30m and we'll call it quits.' It's crazy money."
Guehi's Future and Liverpool's Stance
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has already publicly acknowledged that Guehi intends to leave, confirming in October that the player had rejected a new contract. "I think Marc has already told us that he doesn't sign a new contract, so he will leave next year," Glasner said.
Liverpool's interest remains, but manager Arne Slot has tempered expectations about the club's spending power. He recently admitted that the Reds do not possess unlimited funds, a statement that will be tested if they enter a bidding war for Guehi's signature against other top European clubs, including Barcelona who have reportedly already been deterred by the financials.
"The outside world wants to believe we have unlimited money, but that is not true," Slot said, outlining the club's prudent approach to the transfer market.
